It’s inarguably cute how ducks wag their tails, and it may seem like a sort of a dance they’re making. Perhaps it’s what they do on intuition or impulse without realizing it. Or, a valid reason – or reasons – coerce them into wagging their tails. If this behavior seems mesmerizing or has sparked an interest, making you want to know, this article will answer the question, why do ducks wag their tails?
Ducks wag their tails for several reasons, including when excited, to shake off water from their bodies, or when males want to lure a mate. Also, as they walk, they try to keep balance by wagging their tails, although that only appears typical and less exaggerated. Some ducks do it to dispel build-up body heat and cool off, but there’s more to just the movements they make.
In this article we will take a deep dive into the most commons reason why ducks wag their tails.
The Most Common Reasons Why Ducks Wag Their Tails
Ducks can be mysterious with their peculiar habits and sometimes cheeky and jumpy. But one movement they love making is quite familiar to most duck keepers – tail wagging.
If you’re new to keeping ducks as pets or for domestication, you’ve likely seen your duck wagging its tail and asked why is that? Below we will explain the most common reasons why a duck would wag its tail.
When Excited
Ducks can get excited quite quickly, and they’ll never hold back their energy. They’ll jump up and down while flapping their wings to express emotion and wag their tail. What excites ducks remains a question, but apparently, most duck keepers attest to proper feeding, kiddie pools, and stuffed threat toys being the precursors.
However, the energy usually varies with the reason for excitement. Ducks meeting their buddies after a while do it while bobbing their heads up and down when excited, while playful ones tend to crouch a bit while wagging their tails.
When Males Look For Partners
Ducks are usually enthusiastic and energetic during mating seasons, and you’ll find your duck wagging its tail vigorously. Especially so, the males do it the most, and they may be unusually jumpy and somewhat clingy to their females.
It’s a viable way to lure the females and get their attention, but they’ll go the extra mile by flapping their wings, bobbing their heads, or preen a lot. Somewhat, these cheeky moves mainly work and seem to grip their females.
Female ducks seem unusually reserved during this time and will carefully choose their partners. However, it’s not quite peculiar noticing their jumpiness.
When Cooling Off
Duck feathers can accumulate heat in their bodies, which is particularly dominant after vigorous activity. Wild species may need to fend off predators or escape them frequently constantly.
Male ducks also fight to claim their alpha status, although this behavior is typical for most wild breeds. Domesticated and pet ducks may be more active when playing in pools or running around with the rest. These activities fill too much heat in their feathers and can be uncomfortable.
Therefore, ducks will shuffle their feathers using their bills to create leeway for cool air while wagging their tails. They may seemingly do that while moving around, but a typical behavior is when they’re relaxed.
When Shaking Off Water From Their Bodies
Ducks love water but don’t fancy being soggy all the time. So, they’ll do everything they can to dry after their fun pool sessions, including shuffling their feathers to dislodge excess water. Quite often, they wag their tails as they get fresh and can be one of their cute body movements that will hardly miss your eye.
The tail wagging can be pretty intense in this case when they’re finding a way to eliminate every water drop in the body compared to the other instances triggering the behavior.
When Sick During Warm Weather
Ducks tend to wag their tails often when they’re sick, and it’s hot outside. A typical condition triggering this uncanny behavior is Wet Feathers, which is a complete loss of integrity of the feathers. The condition isn’t fatal in all graces but is irritating and makes your duck uncomfortable.
And typically, you may see them wagging their tails as they scratch their feathers using their bills. Perhaps their tails movements are a way to hint to you about their misery, and you should check them immediately.
You might give them a proper bath and adequately dry them or get them to the vet for a little checkup.
Waddling
Ducks walk pretty uniquely, and you might overthink it a bit as they wag their tails. These birds usually sway their behinds from side to side as they move, helping them maintain a balance and move swiftly.
Some duck breeds do it quite moderately, but some take it over the edge, sometimes seeming like they’re doing it on purpose. The mallards usually wag their tails more than other breeds while waddling.
However, Pekin ducks don’t usually seem to wag their tails more intensively when waddling compared to other breeds.
When Communicating
Ducks tend to wag their tails to relay messages, like when meeting after a while apart. However, head bobbing is a typical movement associated with communication in ducks, and they’ll intensify it depending on why they’re doing it in the first place.
Ducks don’t have the inherent ability to communicate like humans, as it’s typical for most birds, but they use verbal cues to set records straight. If a nagging partner bugs the male, there’s no doubt that it’ll respond furiously, and that includes a warning with a tail wag.
Do All Ducks Wag Their Tails?
Most ducks wag their tails at some point. But, not all ducks wag their tails since most do it on impulse, reacting to a feeling or situation. Some ducks aren’t so responsive to stimuli and may appear to respond modestly by wagging their tails.
However, others seem to be in the mantle, reacting to virtually every situation with a tail wag. Duck breeds with more petite tails need a keen eye to observe the movement, especially when they’re young or aren’t fully developed.
At What Age Do Ducks Start Wagging Their Tails?
Ducks usually start to wag their tails as soon as the second to the third week after they hatch. They mainly learn that from their parents through observing what they do. Tail wagging in ducklings may not be dominant and may need you to be keen enough.
However, it’s something they’d do when excited and happy, mainly if you feed and keep them satisfied. Also, ducklings may wag their tails after swimming with their parents to shake off water from their bodies and hasten to dry.
Do the Different Tail Wagging Movements Have a Meaning?
Ducks wag their tails while making two more prominent movements: vertical and horizontal tail wags. They make each tail movement for viable reasons, with the verticle ones indicating feelings of happiness while the horizontal ones showing distress.
However, other duck breeds make quite bizarre tail wags. The American Wigeon duck, for instance, rapidly whips its tail back and forth when excited, while the intensity is somewhat subdued in Wood ducks.
The Gadwall’s tail wags are rather unnoticeable due to their tinted tails, so their movement may somehow appear suppressed. You’ll notice a shiver or high-frequency tail wag if you’re keen enough. Mallards and most other duck breeds wag their tails quite vigorously, and it’s easy to notice it even from far.
Do Parents Teach Their Ducklings to Wag Their Tails?
Parents teach their ducklings virtually everything, including how to forage and swim. Even so, their gifted teachers pass on various cues and skills to their little ones even though they don’t mean to equip them with essential survival abilities.
Parents commence their lessons as soon as their ducklings hatch, and they’ll relay clues and make body movements for their little ones to pick. Tail wag-teaching is pretty standard in ducks, and you’ll often see them standing before their hatchlings and making the tail movements.
The ducklings usually learn by observation.
What Does It Mean When a Duck Wags its Tail at You?
Ducks love to show their energy in various ways, including wagging their tails at you. They may quack a lot as they do so while being clingy simultaneously. It’s a sign of affection, and it’s quite a good thing – and cute too.
Most ducks would trail you as they nibble your toes, literally a shadow at your back, which is just as much telling you that they adore you. Pet ducks are notorious for their behavior, mainly if they stick around you often.
So you might want to pat them a bit if they take the tail wagging over the edge.
Conclusion
Tail wagging in ducks is pretty usual, as most ducks would do it for several reasons. Notably, this behavior is rampant when excited, but you’d typically observe it when cooling off or shaking water off their bodies after a long swim. However, it can be a viable indication of affection, which in all senses, their tail wagging seems pretty cute!
Thanks for reading, take care.