What Actually Makes Water Roll Off a Duck's Back? | Deep Look

Ducks and geese spend a lot of time preening their all-weather feathers. This obsessive grooming - and a little styling wax from a hidden spot on their back side - maintains the microscopic feather structure that keeps them warm and dry in frigid waters.
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Summer is a great time to be a bird watcher in California. Ducks, geese, and many other species of aquatic birds come to California to breed, build nests and raise broods. If you go to your local pond right now, chances are good that you will see a mallard or Canada goose paddling along with a gaggle of its offspring in tow.
But watch for too long and you might find yourself wondering “how do these birds stay warm and dry in the water?”
It’s a question that Jack Dumbacher, curator of ornithology and mammalogy at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco has been asked many times.
The secret to waterproof waterfowl, it turns out, lies in their feathers.
“Aquatic bird feathers are really different than those of other birds,” Dumbacher said.
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What do ducks eat?
Ducks eat a lot of different things, from snails and tadpoles to grass and fruit. Some ducks specialize in a certain food like fish, while others are more general in their appetites.
Is it OK to feed bread to ducks?
Bread is like junk food to ducks and geese because it doesn’t contain the nutrition they need from their typical diet in the wild. Foods like insects and aquatic plants contain more nutrients than carbohydrate-rich bread.
How do ducks float?
In addition to keeping them warm and helping them fly, ducks rely on their feathers to make them buoyant in water. Soft fuzzy down feathers keep a layer of warm air next to the bird’s skin. The larger vaned feathers create the contour of the duck and keep water out.
---+ Read the entire article on KQED Science:
www.kqed.org/science/1968261/...
---+ For more information:
This 2016 study by scientists at the University of Debrecen in Hungary, shows that aquatic birds like ducks and geese not only have feathers with denser, more tightly knit microstructures than their terrestrial counterparts, but they also have more of them.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wil...
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🏆Congratulations🏆 to the following fans on our Deep Look Community Tab for being the first five to correctly identify the the tiny hooks that keep feathers from splitting apart - barbicels!
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Pyxis
Pinkeu Panda0914
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Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios. Deep Look is a project of KQED Science, which is also supported by the National Science Foundation, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Vadasz Family Foundation, the Fuhs Family Foundation, Campaign 21 and the members of KQED.

[@JPLToyExperience]

It all started with ducks annihilating a bowl of peas

[@mint1372]

Same

[@trinomial-nomenclature]

Ha ha ha, I wonder how many people will get that reference!

[@lopwr1212]

Same

[@adjiar]

I wish I could give this comment a thousand likes. 😃

[@miranda9691]

So you are on this journey too

[@subszonet]

this type of channel is what we really need for youtube

[@kuroneko9167]

Agree

[@Jesse.nothere8]

Agreed

[@RainbowGalaxyMatt777]

I Agreed too

[@likeicare300]

Yup they work really hard

[@ESSBrew]

No worries, its here!

[@robertmcintyre9023]

wow! I didn't know you could put feathers back together again. And never heard of the uropygial gland before, how cool!

[@robertmcintyre9023]

Also the SEM work here is gorgeous.

[@deepstariaenigmatica2601]

this is really good content

[@LazyTallGuy]

Didn’t know about the gland myself

[@scptime1188]

Ikr! This vid is really cool. I always noticed that vained feathers had barbs that you could split, but I didn't know you could put it back. And I've never even heard of the uyropigial gland, even in books about birds and stuff. Woah.

[@jelenaharju9990]

I love it

[@Forever_Rayne]

The way the narrator said "and gorgeous" brought a smile to my face 🥰

[@laniyadaveywilliams4933]

Yessss same 😌

[@bohgirl11]

They look so cute rubbing their heads against their back feathers!

[@RainbowGalaxyMatt777]

Agreed! I love ducks!

[@favsmmk]

No one: Ducks: "yo i heard you liked barbs so i put barbs on the barbs that are on my barbs."

[@akee1ah]

*yo dawck

[@KQEDDeepLook]

😂

[@marinaSassygUrl88]

It wasn’t just me great haha 😂😂

[@ilikepie4685]

Barbception

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

@@KQEDDeepLook ö

[@JoeUploads]

Growing up, we had a lot of ducks and I would sometimes play with the feathers when I see them on the ground. I would always separate them like at 2:41 and would put them back together. It was kinda satisfying. Now I learned why that was possible. Also, I didn't know they waxed themselves. Neat! I love birds and I am continually getting fascinated by them. Thanks for another great video!

[@francesfarmer3874]

yeah same here, i never thought about why you can seal them again

[@jamirparham661]

@@francesfarmer3874 Same

[@johnwt7333]

That's an AH move. Separate feathers, poor birbs get cold and wet

[@YRO.]

@@johnwt7333 Stop, they zipped the feathers back after unzipping it

[@eliasyadon]

4:02 thanks Deep Look for giving me the cutest gif I could ever make

[@yashnanda6413]

😍😍😂😂 Oh my... it's so cute. I'm tearing up

[@ooooneeee]

Please share the link

[@mr.potatoman2987]

"This duck has fabulous feathers, and he knows it" Mallard: YAS!!

[@johnc4122]

“Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?” Another great video! The wax gland part blew my mind.

[@cwazy_coquitlamdd6507]

didn't even know about it, tho yeah, the ducks at the lake do look strangely shiny.

[@NugiMIkhsan]

"water off a duck's back" - Jinkx Monsoon

[@josephsherby]

I was looking for this comment

[@aaron386]

YASSSS

[@lance9842]

I genuinely love deep look

[@mahmoudahmedshalabi]

The content that Deep Look creates is so amazing! I let my young niece and nephew watch it with me. Educational and mesmerising, once I start, I can't stop.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lebruhnjames1946]

Same bruh

[@yomishizuno2034]

“Wait for it... barbicels”

[@munzil4324]

Don't forget Mermaid

[@kaylesandoval4717]

I remember Jinkx Monsoon saying “water off a duck’s back” 😁

[@Naili00]

So basically birds have thousands of zippers on their back? Good to know that

[@TudorNecula]

4:19 now that duck just looks picture perfect. The beauty industry really does create unrealistic standards

[@samgrg3882]

JINX MONSOON!!!

[@moonshonemeadow]

Water off a duck's back

[@serotoninbeggar9957]

even the voice over kinda sounds like Jinx's haha

[@fed4263]

Sam Grg I LOVE YOU FOR THIS

[@samgrg3882]

@@moonshonemeadow that's a wonderful mantra you got there.

[@Bree_999]

I was looking for a Jinx Monsoon comment

[@cathylovesrice3317]

4:16 This little duck can keep itself totally comfy ... *and GORGEOUS* Ok the way how she says gorgeous is cracking me up!

[@sadcat747]

0:15 Narrator: this duck has incredible feathers and he knows it. Duck: quack!

[@monketitan0-0]

"This duck has fabulous feathers and he know it" Duck: 𝙔𝙀𝙎 0:12

[@abaannsaba6697]

4:26 is literally me hiding my laugh while I’m at the front of class

[@-SRINIVAS.K]

Books : Theory Me : 🤔 Deep look : practical Me : 🤩 ✨No words to say about Deep look..... It's just amazing ❤️

[@-SRINIVAS.K]

@IBRAHIM REEHAAN MOHAMED I am also my friend....😊

[@saalkz.a.9715]

"What Actually Makes Water Roll Off a Duck's Back?" Duck Tape?!

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

🤣🤣😂

[@clur1t24]

Haha

[@EJartistry]

“Water off a ducks back!” Chant by jinx monsoon makes perfect sense now. ♥️

[@eanasnan145]

This is easily one of the best Deep Look episodes I’ve watched since I became a fan in 2017

[@Bp2181991]

Thanks for always giving us reasons to look at things differently. Love this channel.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Our pleasure!

[@ShaudaySmith]

That little "gorgeous" at the end was a delight.

[@imogen3038]

I had to study feathers in my university course for Animals. And I can be safe to say that this info is correct. Bird feathers are amazing. There's wing feathers, contour feathers, down feathers, bristle feathers etc. and it's so amazing to know! The barbs are pretty cool too!

[@SciFactsYT118]

Random fact: Melting glaciers and icebergs make a distinctive fizzing noise known as "bergy seltzer".

[@dingo-gorditas]

why does bergy sound like a name?

[@scptime1188]

Bahahaha bergy seltzer. Love it.

[@chineseduckscriedinladakh3760]

Am I the only one who doesn't want these videos to end in 5 minutes? Btw great video! Lots of respects to you, it must've been a ton of hardwork! 😲😍

[@marinaSassygUrl88]

4:20 she is flirting with him just like that, wow so courageous 😁😁

[@payrocoin]

Watched this with a smile on my face the entire time. I love ducks and geese.

[@aryanponnuru2795]

Thankfully this youtube channel was not influenced to make demoralizing content. Its just beautiful what nature has to offer. We could aquire so much knowledge from analyzing these cool creatures

[@kacey6707]

"aAnd...gOr𝓰𝓮𝓸𝓾𝓼" was perfectly timed with the duck staring at the camera.

[@joaquinbarroos8458]

hi, the best chanel

[@3KAQ]

Hehe :

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Hi!

[@C2K_Chuufis]

@@KQEDDeepLook hiii ur cool >:3

[@user-io3ur7yy5g]

When I was younger, we would do arts and crafts stuff and there would be artificial feathers. I would always try to make sure the feathers didn’t have any breaks in them. Funny how I was sort of preening the feathers (with out the grease of course)

[@juandalg4907]

Such a complex design just on the feathers, and how was this natural selection. it’s like if someone actually thought out exactly how this should be, not just some casual thing that happened to be useful and made them survive

[@Vizal]

Ducks. Such magnificent creatures. Every week you see the swim. And you cry. For only ducks can truly perceive reality. Glorious ducks.

[@lettuceturnipthebeets790]

How good you are, DL? That's a fantastic work you've done on this one release, thank you! To the whole Team!

[@oBuLLzEyEo1013]

Wow I actually learned a few things and was corrected on a few more, brilliant... Thank you thumbs up...

[@TheViciousVendetta]

This video looked STUNNING in 1080p!! Can't imagine what those gorgeous feathers would look like in 4K!!!

[@Aasifkhan-np3qm]

The Narrator's voice and her style take these videos to the next level from great to incredible, just like the wax to feathers

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Imagine having to re-zip your jacket everytime you move! I respect these guys even more now.😉🦆🦆🦆

[@jill8667]

Quack ! Quack!🦆🦆

[@lucasfc4587]

Just finished my Deep Look binge, appreciated every one of them! Learned abou the uropigeal gland but had never seen one!

[@insomnialemon]

Besides being informative all the shots provided are so beautiful and the narrator's voice is always lovely.

[@BellaBungalow]

Thank you for these informational videos! I've been subscribed 3 years! I love You guys!

[@sfteesugar7065]

I must say that deep look is the BEST!!! 💕💕

[@alexchoi9418]

She protecc She attacc but most importantly, she explains how water rolls off a duck's bacc

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Hehe.

[@greensun7099]

Amazing :) thank you for deep looks!

[@elli123]

It's so informative and fascinating as always deep look, thanks for the high quality videos💕

[@pumpkin1019]

You guys actually make learning fun

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

Some gorgeous shots in this! Simply *stunning!* I knew how it all works, but when I am missing the little Canadian gosling that we rescued and delivered to a waterfowl rescue place a few years ago (has it really been over 5 years?!?), I hunt down things waterfowl-related to watch. Before anyone claims I didn't know what I was doing, that her mom was probably just off eating, let me explain a few things. I understand birds. I've raised chickens, ducks, quail, guinea fowl, turkeys, and geese successfully, for years. I get the whole "mom went to get some food, the chicks will be fine" thing. I do. I have seen it time and again. However, I've had to explain this SO often, so I'll get it over ahead of time... We had a tornado rip through the countryside between our home and my sister-in-law's home; passing really close her house & near/over a fee small lakes. Next morning, my sister-in-law discovered a lone little gosling (I estimate perhaps as young as 2 days), walking down the dirt road past SIL's home, crying as loud as she could for mama. No mama in sight, muddy and chilled, and as soon as she saw my sister-in-law, she sped up and ran straight at her. I assume an instinct told her that something larger than her would be needed so she could get help. This being March, SIL was amazed the gosling even survived overnight alone! She came right up to SIL, kept begging, and wouldn't leave her side. When SIL moved (she was doing chores), the gosling followed her. SIL moves again, gosling follows again. So, it was clear to SIL she was stuck with a bird she knew nothing about & was in over her head, so she got hold of me. I picked up the adorable little girl, set up an area for her with food & water, and started looking for the best waterfowl rehabber in the area. Got hold of a friend who used to rehab wildlife, herself (mammals), knew one personally, and enthusiastically suggested her. We named the gosling Dandelion Daffodil, as the dandelions seemed to be her favorite thing to chomp on from the yard, it was still blooming season for daffodils, and she still had the yellow tone in her fluff; it seemed to fit. 😄 That was the name she was taken in with, too! 😍 To make a long story slightly less long than it would've been, I only got not quite 5 full days with Dandelion, but it was long enough to fall in love with her! She grew up, migrated with the rest of the geese there, and came back to the rehab release point the following season! She was doing great the last time I checked in with them, too. 🦆❤ They only follow them for 5 years, so I won't know when her story ends, but they can live to 15 years old (older in captivity, but that's not a normal life), so I will just assume, from here on out, she will live a continued long, happy life! Good grief, sorry that was so long! It just brings back so many memories!

[@arzalalbuchari7095]

Awesome video, I really like how you folks are able to visualize the tiny details of the feathers, I'm still not sure how they zip their barbs together with that unstable movement though. But still, you guys are really underrated.

[@------country-boy-------]

i love these videos. nice and short and to the point !!!

[@bunnyb4685]

So cute!! The conditional makes sense!

[@XVir1000]

See y’all back in 6 years when this is recommended

[@Multi-MediaVideo]

_I remember Deep Look had only 100k+ Subscribers_ *_Now: 1.52M+_* *Congrats!* *_Deep Look has a wonderful explanation and video editing skill!_*

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks a ton!

[@TheSharkAnt]

This video did not disappoint me, thanks for sharing! I love ducks!

[@grandonkerz]

thanks for this informative video, interesting, keep up the good work.

[@hobispinner]

binge watching deep look videos this quarantine!!!

[@theophilusthistler5885]

I've noticed burds in my backyard etc during the hot months preen a lot less when they need to let the water in / bathe to keep cool (parrots/ parakeets/ magpies / skylarks etc). Both our native and Indian miner birds however preen extensively year round... or they have mites.

[@charlesmaersk5235]

I just love the way of the narration as well as those video shot put all togther it's so calming and easily to understand.. 👌

[@deadtrim9500]

See this the type of channel we need schools to show! Instead of all those old and boring films! Love the narrator!

[@artificialidiot1654]

Always enjoy these videos

[@karenvilleda888]

Deep look, I’d like to know more about creatures that live in your face. Would love to see a video from you guys on this. Keep up the good work!!

[@herbertgamwell5364]

Thank you for what you do! Love every video you make, best documentaries literally!

[@-jalena-5512]

Deep Look has the greatest videos istg, It’s not boring yet it’s educational.

[@GuentherJohnny]

Great video! Amazing creation of a great designer!!!

[@lass1234]

Such a soothing video!

[@bucketshoe]

wow i love ur episodes and their so intertaining!

[@Libra623_]

Are you kidding me that's why someone with a duck profile pic was named "water rolls off me" or so something like that

[@MakaveliTheDon2]

You guys are incredible. Thanks for the knowledge and the opportunity to see things differently.

[@paxsmile]

Wow! Learned something new! Thank you!

[@roundy331]

this video was uploaded on my birthday. That's pretty cool!

[@lheojan6320]

You give me a new trivia,thank’s Deep look 👏👏👏

[@riinari8693]

Ducks head be like : ⬆️⬇️↖️⬅️↙️↘️➡️↗️↪️↩️⤴️⤵️↪️

[@steffanypulpulaan1650]

That last eye roll is so gorg xD❤️

[@Kalmight]

This was an amazing video!

[@Aditi_1319]

those visuals are amusing...extraordinary

[@paulafigueiredo1745]

Thanks for teaching me about very interesting things. You rock Deep Look .

[@KQEDDeepLook]

You are welcome, Paula.

[@Arianagrandeandothers]

Ive learnt so much ever since I subscribed to you

[@dardardarner]

Amazing. I learned a lot today!

[@pedro9082]

great content as always! Deep Look is the best.

[@mysterious7215]

I had a eureka moment when I found this brilliant channel . I love nature and now my love for nature has increased more..........

[@turtleface5290]

Gorgeous ducks

[@-_A_B_-]

Best channel i've subscribed ❤️

[@Cleeon]

Wow, a short butuh very detailed documentary, good works, thanks siapa much🥰

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Glad you liked it!

[@miranda9691]

This is mindblowing

[@dewd420]

Yet again, great informative videos & awesome music. Also, ducks are gorgeous.

[@tanmaybamane9154]

this was one of the best video I’ve seen on this channel 💜💜

[@siddhusiddhartha4692]

Love your channel 😍

[@starchild3664]

Man.. I love this channel

[@blitzkatze3910]

Duck: *goes into water* Barbs: Looks like I'm goin for a swim

[@abadlydrawnsnowman1648]

underrated comment

[@vince_c]

never thought id find ducks interesting. this channel is the best thing ever!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks Vincent!

[@natasha.ixtlan]

Wow. so greatly explained. awesome video amazing educational channel. Thank you!

[@m.a.r.a.l8862]

When they closed their eyes and rubbed their heads on their back was sooo cute!

[@FireIsTheCIeanser]

my dog loves ducks lol. every time i take him for a walk at the park he always pauses and takes a a gander at any ducks he sees.

[@theminish8710]

So cool! Thanks for the content :)