Duck



Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds which also includes swans and geese. The word duck comes from Old English *dūce "diver", a derivative of the verb *dūcan "to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive", because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen "to dive". In exobiology, “duck” is only used for Terran species; in Standard Lingo it is used for many non-Terran species.

Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons, grebes, gallinules and coots. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, mostly smaller than the swans and geese, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water.

A male duck is called a drake and the female duck is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage or baby duck; but in the food trade young adult ducks ready for roasting are sometimes labeled "duckling".

While a “greasier” meat than chicken, duck is a popular meat in many Terran cuisines, especially those originating in Asia. Union-wide, duck falls behind chicken, pork and beef as regards popularity.