What do ducks eat?

At first glance, all ducks appear rather similar in size, shape, and color. However, these birds possess a variety of feeding behaviors and dietary needs. Ducks are omnivores that typically eat a variety of small animals, grains, and water plants. In other words, ducks are opportunistic eaters -- meaning they'll feast on whatever food sources are available in their environment.

A duck's diet can vary based on its species. For instance, sea ducks and waterfowl that inhabit coastal shorelines feed mainly on small fish and invertebrates like mollusks and crustaceans they find in shallow waters. Wetland species like mallards typically search for food along the shoreline in rivers or lakes. These birds also feed further into the water plants or any kind of vegetation near the edge.

Most domestic ducks primarily eat grasses, lettuces, grains, seeds, snails, slugs, bugs (especially larvae), aquatic organisms like tadpoles or leeches if they can find them; as well as fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots offered by their owners. Ducks may also catch mice or shrews leaving their burrows close to open waters where they roam. And since domestic ducks are usually used for both meat production and egg-laying purposes; many farmers also feed them with commercial poultry pellets containing specialized proteins for growth promotion.