Why ducks have webbed feet

It would be like trying to swim with your fingers spread apart. The webbed feet propel the bird through the water.

When the bird pulls its foot forward for the next push, the toes come together, folding up the webs. The foot is instantly less resistant, moving through the water easily to get into place for the next stroke without pushing the bird backwards.

Webbed feet are useful on land as well as on water because they allow birds to walk more easily on mud. However, changing the color of bills and feet has its role when it comes to mating. Orange colors attract the opposite sex. And so, during paring season, from December to January, both female and male mallards turn their feet and bill bright orange.

Special webbed feet called palmate feet are unique to waterfowl. The palmate feet are the most common webbed feet kinds, and they help ducks, geese, gulls, and swans to be great swimmers. When we think of crocodiles, the first thought that runs through our heads is bloodthirsty ancient predators. Which is not far from the truth. Crocodiles are fearless carnivores, known for…. Bats are mammals in all ramifications, but with the added advantage that they can fly.

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Experiments suggest that a triangular webbed foot is beautifully designed to propel a bird, or other creature, through the water. The toes and webs spread out as the bird pushes its foot backward. Then as the bird pulls its foot forward, the toes fold together, to minimize resistance. And many birds have mastered a stroke that any human swimmer might envy. A bird may lift its foot away from its body on the forward stroke, actually giving itself a little extra lift and speed.

Four hundred different species of birds have webbed feet. And a parallel adaptation shows up in other creatures that spend time in the water—like otters, frogs and salamanders. Gadwalls, Canada Geese, and Mallard recorded by T.