You’ve probably seen it yourself. Someone throws out some birdseed or stale bread crumbs to a bunch of pigeons in a park, and the birds go absolutely wild. They rush the person, pushing their fellow pigeons out of the way and gobbling up as much food as possible. This Instagram video shows ducks operating in the same manner. It’s every duck for themselves in this feeding frenzy.
It doesn’t matter whether they are pets or wild animals. Most animals become ravenous and even violent when faced with food and competition for said food. They behave similarly to humans, but with greater urgency and desperation, and without any sense of decorum. However, when their next meal is uncertain, it’s hard to blame them for devolving into a frenzy. Let’s learn more about these ducks, what prompted them to act this way, and why groups of animals, particularly birds, often devolve into feeding frenzies.
Duck, Duck…Go!!!
Ducks are known to forage in large social groups. They are also known to go absolutely wild when presented with copious amounts of food.
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In this Instagram video, a group of ducks goes absolutely crazy. They devolve into a feeding frenzy for simple, cut-up greens floating in one big bowl of water and peas submerged in another. This video, by way of the popular farm social media page Cheese and Quackers, shows at least a dozen ducks of various colors and sizes enthusiastically competing for food. Their caretaker can barely put down the food bowls before the ducks trip over each other to get a bite. Within seconds, it seems, the bits of greens and peas are gone. All that remains are two bowls of water that have survived a true feeding frenzy.
Types of Quackery
The website for Homestead featured in the Instagram video lists 45 ducks from 11 different breeds.
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There are a fair number of ducks in this video, which is not surprising on a farm or in any place where ducks and people coexist. Plus, ducks are social creatures and are known to forage in large groups together when food is in good supply. While it’s hard to say exactly what kind of ducks there are in this Instagram video, a quick inspection can provide a few clues. Some of them appear to be White Pekins. This is a breed of domestic duck brought over from China in the 18th century. Although this breed is elegant, with monochrome coloring and a swan-like appearance, it is primarily raised for its meat.
Other types of ducks in this video likely include mallards, marbled ducks, and possibly a few Orpington Ducks present as well. Mallards are probably the most well-known type of duck. Male mallards have shining green heads, but females have earth-toned feathers. Marbled ducks also seem to be present in the video. They have speckled brown and white feathers, dark eye patches, and woolly heads. Marbled ducks are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, primarily due to habitat loss and degradation. Regardless of the breed, all the ducks become frenzied when food is presented.
Classification Clues
The video also contains some orange and white-colored ducks, which are reminiscent of Orpingtons. They are a British duck variety bred for both meat and eggs. It’s difficult to determine exactly how many ducks appear in the video or which species they represent. The social media channel’s website, however, provides a good answer. The Cheese and Quackers website says the farm, in upstate New York, features 45 ducks from 11 different breeds.
The Frenzy Factor
Feeding frenzies are a real biological phenomenon.
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It may seem like the ducks in this Instagram video are being extra rude in getting their food, but the natural world is tough. Animals—whether birds, mammals, or reptiles—don’t have reliable food sources, let alone grocery stores. When the opportunity to feed arises, they have to strike while the iron is hot. There’s a dynamic mix of biology and psychology at play in any animal feeding frenzy.
As previously mentioned, animals are forced to live with a scarcity mindset. Food is not always easy to come by. Even when it is, they act as if they will never get a good meal again. Plus, ducks are highly social animals that feed off each other’s behavior. When one duck becomes frenzied in its food intake, the surrounding ducks are sure to follow.
Even then, social hierarchies come into play. Ducks maintain strict social hierarchies. Eating quickly in a group provides safety from predators, and more dominant ducks will compete for the best feeding spots. Once the biting and chewing begin, the frenzy often escalates rapidly. Feeding frenzies are a real biological phenomenon. You may think only animals behave this way, but flash sales at stores often bring out similar frenzied behavior in humans. It’s every man, or duck, for themselves.
