Why do ducks just stand there in the rain without moving when it rains?

When it rains in the summer, most people will rush to find shelter from the rain, but we often find water birds such as ducks by ponds and lakes, which don't care about the rain at all and stand quietly on the shore or float on the water.

Previously, a video on a certain social media platform attracted everyone's attention. The ducks in the video stood motionless in the rain, as if they were still.

Netizens also started to have various ideas:

"Do ducks also need military training?"

"Because duck doesn't avoid"

"Duck: Let all the rain fall, so you can't see the struggle on my face~"

“So down jackets cannot be dry-cleaned, they must be washed.”

......

Why do ducks not seek shelter from the rain but are so calm? Are they really not afraid of getting soaked by the rain? In fact, behind this seemingly unreasonable behavior, there are actually ducks' unique physiological characteristics and survival wisdom.

Today I want to talk to you about why ducks don’t hide from the rain.

Duck feathers are waterproof

Waterfowl, including ducks, are called "waterfowl" and their feathers are often waterproof as an adaptation for a life of swimming.

For example, ducks, the most common mallards, have a sebaceous gland at the tail that secretes special oil, which ducks will apply to their feathers when they are free. The feather surface is evenly coated with this layer of oil, which is equivalent to a thin layer of "isolation cream" that will not come into contact with water, will not be wetted by water, and can remain dry and tightly overlapped and attached together.

At this time, when rain falls on the duck's feathers, the water droplets will slide down along the gaps between the feathers without wetting the feathers.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

Duck down can keep warm

If the rain doesn't get you wet, you won't feel cold.

Under the surface feathers of ducks, there is a layer of down. When we make down jackets, the "duck down" we fill is mainly this down. This down has very good warmth retention, and ducks can also control the feather roots through muscle contraction and expansion, thereby adjusting the fluffiness of the down to regulate body temperature. As long as the rain does not wet the down, they will not feel cold.

At the same time, many water birds are in the brooding period, when the chicks have not grown feathers, they lack the ability to keep warm, and their down is easily wetted by rain, leading to hypothermia and death. At this time, the chicks often burrow into the feathers of the parent birds to get the protection of the parent birds.

For example, swan chicks will crawl onto the backs of their parents, and some water birds will hide under the wings of their parents or in the feathers on their abdomens. At this time, the legs of the chicks are often exposed. What we see is like a bird with many legs. It is a very interesting phenomenon.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

Ducks standing still in the rain

More conducive to reducing energy consumption

At the same time, staying still in the rain can also help ducks reduce physical consumption and conserve energy. For any wild animal, the most important thing in their life, besides reproduction, may be foraging.

The ducks we usually see are either eating or resting. They will fill their stomachs whenever they have the chance. If they can't eat anymore, they will find a place to rest to save energy and stop all non-essential activities as much as possible.

Rainfall may cause some difficulties for ducks' foraging activities. Rainwater may wash away food on the water surface, making it difficult to find food. Ducks may consume a lot of energy, but find little food, resulting in a serious imbalance between input and output. At this time, it is a good idea to "lie down" and rest to save energy, which can avoid unnecessary energy waste and reduce physical consumption. This strategy of saving energy is beneficial for ducks, especially when food is scarce or the environment is harsh.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

Avoid injuries and other potential risks

In addition, rainfall is often accompanied by meteorological phenomena such as strong winds, lightning, and thunder. Most water birds are not good at walking on land. It is not a good idea to move at this time. They may be blown down by the wind and injured.

In the water, strong winds may cause relatively large waves, which also poses a great safety hazard to water birds. Lightning and thunder will also affect the vision and hearing of water birds, causing short-term blindness or deafness. At this time, running around may easily cause collisions or falls. Water birds living in groups may also be trampled. At this time, it is better to stand still or find a relatively calm water surface to rest for a while.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

Of course, the above situations are often a way for ducks and other water birds to deal with light or moderate rain. However, if they encounter extreme weather such as heavy rain or rainstorms, water birds will also seek sheltered places. Even if their feathers are waterproof, they will not be able to hide in heavy rainstorms. If they get wet, they are likely to die from hypothermia in a short period of time. At this time, water birds will fly to big trees, cracks in rocks or caves to take shelter from the rain, and then come out to move around after the rain stops and the sky clears.

Therefore, the ducks we see standing in the rain are not afraid of getting wet. There are complex reasons behind this, such as the relationship between the ducks' body structure, behavioral habits, natural environment, and climate. The behavior of animals is a survival strategy formed in the long process of evolution, which enables them to adapt to the natural environment and survive and reproduce in the harsh environment of nature.

For us, only through long-term observation and in-depth study of animal behavior can we understand the meaning behind their behavior. At the same time, the exploration of these phenomena will not only help us better understand the biodiversity and ecological balance in the natural world, but also stimulate our curiosity and desire to explore nature.

Planning and production

Author: Erzhu Popular Science Creator

Reviewer: Huang Chengming, Researcher at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Planning丨Wang Mengru

Editor: Wang Mengru

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin