Stiff-tailed duck facts for kids

The stiff-tailed ducks are a special group of ducks. They are known for their long, stiff tail feathers. When these ducks are resting, their tails stand straight up! They also have bills that look quite large and swollen.

These ducks love freshwater and spend most of their time diving in it. Their legs are set far back on their bodies, which makes them excellent swimmers. However, this also means they are a bit clumsy on land, so you'll rarely see them out of the water.

What Makes Them Special?

Stiff-tailed ducks have some really interesting ways of showing off. Their displays involve making drumming noises. They do this using special throat-sacs that can inflate, or puff up. They also throw their heads back and forth and can raise a short crest of feathers on their heads.

Their Amazing Feathers

Understanding how old a stiff-tailed duck is can be tricky because their feather patterns are quite complex. Their feathers are super important for them to survive, especially since they spend so much time in the water. Without their feathers, these ducks would get too cold and could even die from hypothermia. Their feathers help them keep their body temperature just right.

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