Biodiversity, Waterfowl, Wildlife

What do wild ducks eat?

Different ducks have different diets—and even change their foods according to time of year

By Julie Pollock March 20, 2024

Ducks eat a wide variety of wild foods including seeds, fish, aquatic plants and invertebrates—the aquatic creatures like snails and insects found in bodies of water. For many wild species, foods of choice are both seasonal and perfectly suited for their needs.

For example, mergansers catch fish with their narrow, serrated bills. Northern shovelers scoop seeds and invertebrates from the water with their wide, flat bills.

Harlequin ducks, found on the east and west coasts, dive underwater to capture their saltwater prey. These ducks consume mainly aquatic insects and fish eggs in breeding season and turn to tidal marine invertebrates on their wintering grounds.

Female ducks tend to eat differently according to time of year. They prefer a high-protein diet as they prepare to nest and they load up on carbohydrates for migration. The extra carbs help them meet the demands of their lengthy flights.

Large-bodied ducks, such as eiders, can complete migration with enough stored energy to lay their eggs and then spend about four weeks tending the nest. But smaller birds, such as blue-winged teals, arrive at their nesting grounds seeking protein- and calcium-rich foods, like invertebrates, to get the nutrients they need before laying and tending their eggs.

Many ducks include mosquito larvae among the aquatic invertebrate species they consume as part of their wild diets. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

Spring ponds support aquatic invertebrates

Protecting wildlife habitats is key to keeping these feathered friends healthy. In many regions, ponds with wetland habitat and a buffer of grassland are like a neighbourhood where ducks can raise the next generation. Research in aquatic ecology supported by Ducks Unlimited Canada examined a series of restored wetlands in agricultural landscapes in southern Ontario.

The scientists found that most wetlands hosted diverse food webs that included insect and fish species and, in particular, aquatic invertebrates which are important food sources for waterfowl.

From fish and aquatic plants to invertebrates, ducks’ diets vary significantly, with adaptations for nesting, migration and raising young. Understanding these dietary patterns is crucial for conservation efforts, particularly in maintaining the aquatic (water-based) habitats that provide essential food sources for these birds—and other wildlife species too.

Children love to learn firsthand about aquatic invertebrates on field trips. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

Feeding wild ducks? Please don’t!

Please do not feed wild ducks. It may be tempting, especially in the case of adorable ducklings, but the foods we give them (including bread) are not nutritious and may undermine their health. As well, wild ducks should not be distracted from their critical task of finding a diversity of wild foods to support their vitality.

The Duck Doctor is in

Would you like to learn more? Research scientist Lauren Bortolotti tells us what’s on the menu for wild ducks this spring. (Hint: It’s not bread!)

How to help

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What do wild ducks eat?

Different ducks have different diets—and even change their foods according to time of year

Spring ponds support aquatic invertebrates

Feeding wild ducks? Please don’t!

The Duck Doctor is in

How to help

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