Why Do Ducks Swim in a Row?

This phenomenon is so commonplace, it's become an expression. But what's the science behind getting your ducks in a row? Researchers have found the answer– ducklings save energy by surfing their mom’s waves.

December 13, 2021

By: Tatum Lenberg

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If you have ever been to a pond, you’ve likely seen a group of ducklings swimming behind their parent in a neat line. Why are they swimming in that formation?

Well, it turns out there’s an answer to this cute spring phenomenon.

A study published earlier this year reveals ducklings save energy by staying in line behind their mothers, where they can ride the waves created in her wake.

Measurements of duckling metabolism showed these feathery fowls save energy by swimming behind a leader.

Naval architect, Zhiming Yuan, created computer simulations of a mother duck’s wake. If a duckling is cruising in just the right spots, it can get a helpful assist.

Wave drag resists a young duckling’s paddling– wasting some of its precious energy.

A duckling swimming behind a leader experiences 158% less wave drag.

The ducklings share this assist with their siblings, each duckling in line passes along waves to the duckling behind it.