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With prolonged road construction happening on Wells Street, we recommend beginning your Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo adventure on Sherman Boulevard until construction is finished.

Call Duck

ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS DOMESTICUS

Quick Facts

Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos domesticus
Class: Bird
Weight: 18 to 25 ounces (500-700 grams)
Life span: 9 to 12 years
Incubation: 28 days
Conservation status: Not Endangered

About

Water bound

Call ducks have strong wings and hollow bones like other ducks. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo trims their wings to keep them grounded in their exhibit. This is painless to the bird, similar to receiving a haircut. Call ducks’ bodies are built for the water. Inside their bodies are tons of air sacs that help them float. Even their feathers help them float by trapping air among them. Call ducks’ feathers are also covered in a waterproof seal that helps keep them warm and dry. This duck’s feet are webbed, which helps them paddle through the water or hunt for insects and plants on land.


Calling all ducks!

Call ducks were originally used to bring other ducks to the hunting grounds because they have a loud call. This was later replaced with artificial duck calls.


Eat it up!

Call ducks don’t have teeth. Instead, they have bumpy edges on their bills. They grab with the bumps, swallow the food, and grid it up in their gizzards, part of a ducks stomach that has small rocks that break up food.

 

Conservation

Learn more about our efforts, our conservation partners around the world, and the simple steps you can take to contribute.

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