Why Do Ducks Swim In Circle? 6 Facts You Should Know!

Why do ducks swim in circle? In general, ducks swim in circles to communicate or as a forager. And it’s a natural behavior. Besides, attracting, courtship, nest building, social interaction, territorial behavior, feeding, and environmental impact make them follow the pattern.

However, people believe swimming in the circle is to agitate the water underneath. And it’s for getting closer to the aquatic diet surface like algae or plants.

Well, all of them are right, but there are some clear discussions. So, get your cup of coffee and get a clear understanding of ducks ‘ behavior.

Why Do Ducks Swim In Circle? 10 Reasons Behind!

Mostly, wild ducks or backyard ducks swim in circles due to their natural instinct or behavior. People have mostly observed circle swimming in Northern Shovelers or dabbling surface-feeding ducks. But they actually showed the feeding strategy in water.

The way of swimming is considered as a “pinwheel” pattern where ducks form, and rotations and reform circles are shown. Here is a video of ducks swimming in a circle. Right after that, I’ll share all the possible reasons behind their behavior in water.

1. Conserve Energy

The first possible reason behind ducks swimming in circular motion is to conserve energy. They try to reduce travel distances to keep their position in the water. 

For resting and flying, conserving energy is what they must perform. Plus, compared to straight-line swimming, circle swimming absorbs less energy in duck ponds or lakes.

2. Communication

To communicate and coordinate with their mates, ducks stay in a circular motion while swimming. Ducks may bob their head or wag their tails to show their intention. 

It strengthens their bond and can be very helpful for other purposes like saving from predators, foraging, eating, mating, and more.

3. Attraction

Ducks stay in the water and swim in a circular motion to get female ducks’ attention and attraction. It’s what may lead to courtship.

It’s mainly because they try to attract their opposite gender during the breeding season. They actually try to show their smartness, strength, agility, and attractiveness.

4. Courtship And Mating Behavior

I was giving you a hint that they swim in a circle to indicate the mating behavior during the breeding time. When drakes show their strength and smartness near the female ducks, they (Female ducks) choose the mating partner among them.

To ensure it’s their mating behavior, you may see nod-swimming and swimming in a rounded motion.

Recommended reading: Everything About Duck Mating and Courtship Ritual

5. Nest Building Near Land

Ducks, mostly shovelers, build nests on land with bodies of water. They often swim in a circle pattern just before making their nest during breeding time.

By doing so, they basically ensure a safe and suitable area for nesting. Also, they make a visual market by making circular patterns while swimming. They do it so that they can easily find out their nest.

6. Social Interaction

You’ll know ducks are social birds that often remain together and swim what we call rafts. Swimming in a circle shows their social interaction along with good bonding, as I said earlier. They also understand that “Unity is Strength.”

Ducks are social and trustworthy. I recommend you read our article on how smart a duck is, which emphasizes that ducks are social and have some extraordinary features that keep them apart from other birds.

7. Territorial Behavior

Sometimes, ducks’ circle swimming indicates marking or defending the duck’s territory. It’s a way to show their authority over any specific area.

8. Feeding Strategy

Ducks usually forage and dive to have their food sources. Swimming in circles makes them develop ripples or vortexes that interrupt aquatic creatures like insects, invertebrates, or small fish. And it’s what helps the ducks to catch their natural diets in water.

Here is a Mallard making ripples on the lake for the same reason. This is how they do that while swimming in a circle.

9. Environmental Impact

Ducks make a mental map near the location they are in. It helps to detect any food source as well as predatorial attacks. Ducks do it by navigating and orienting while swimming in a circular motion.

10. Playful Mind

When ducks are in a jolly mood, they swim in a circle with their mates. And it’s completely a natural way of living.

6 Facts To Know About Ducks Circle Swimming

So, you got the reasons behind ducks swimming in a circle. But I thought to include some facts about such behavior. Don’t miss out on this section!

1. How Do Ducks Swim in Circles?

They do that by paddling towards the center in a rotational motion, and they paddle water away from the center. Here, the unequal force on every side makes a circular motion that they do for feeding, maneuvering, and other purposes mentioned above.

2. Do One-Legged Ducks Swim In Circles?

They tried to but failed to do it in a circular motion. However, some of them can swim in a circle with one leg. It’s rare and surprising! Here is a video to clarify it.

Usually, ducks utilize their legs to control and efficiently swim. But one-legged ducks struggle to coordinate, so they are commonly seen in a straight line swimming.

3. Why Duckling Spinning in Circles While Swimming?

We generally consider it a neurological problem or incubation error. You’ll see newly hatched baby ducks or goslings spin in circles. Or maybe they do it as they’re not experienced waterfowl in water like the matured ducks.

4. What About Goose Swimming In Circles?

Mostly, geese swim in circles to catch fish in water. But they go in a straight line rather than making a circle. So, goose making a circle is something rare you’ll see as a behavioral fact.

5. Do All Duck Species Swim In Circles?

No, all the duck species don’t show such behavior. It’s when they’re in the water and when it’s necessary to act like that. For example, they swim in circles for food, mating, communicating, and more, as I said earlier.

6. Do Ducks Swim In Circle Underwater?

Nope, ducks don’t swim underwater in circles. They dive into the water for food sources or to save themselves from predatorial attacks. So you won’t see them circling when underwater. However, here is a GIF to show you how they dive into the water to save themselves from predators. It’s what they do underwater, not swim in a circle.

Related Readings:

• Do Ducks Swim In Water
• How Fast Ducks Can Swim
• Ducks Swimming In Chlorine Water

FAQs

Although you get your answer, here I am including some other common questions that a duck owner may ask. Check them out!

Conclusion

So, ducks swim in a circle first because of their natural instinct. Then, swimming in the circle indicates communication, attraction, courtship, social interaction, territorial act, nest building, foraging, feeding, or environmental fact.

You’ll possibly see them either swimming in a group and making a circle or doing the same alone. But one-legged ducks don’t do that due to the lack of balance and strength. And baby ducks don’t do the same as they are still young. Besides, they don’t make circles and swim underwater. What they do underwater is forage for food or escape from predators.

Sources And References:

• https://www.azcentral.com/story/claythompson/2014/12/22/duck-pond-algae-food-water/20778699/
• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/what-to-watch-for-duck-courtship-video/#