Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. Technically, however, the term referrs to the female; the male is a drake. The ducks are divided between several subfamilies including divers and dabblers. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, generally smaller than swans and geese, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. They have a cosmopolitan distribution occurring across most of the world except for Antarctica.
Despite widespread misconceptions, only the females of most dabbling ducks "quack". A number of species manage to live on sub-Antarctic islands like South Georgia and the Auckland Islands. Numerous ducks have managed to establish themselves on oceanic islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand and Kerguelen, although many of these species and populations are threatened or have become extinct. While our duck Christmas ornaments and gifts will not become extinct, you will want to grab them before the Christmas season.
