What Is a Group of Ducks Called?
The general term, plus the specific ones that change depending on whether the ducks are on water, in the air, or paired up.
Quick answer: A group of ducks is most commonly called a flock of ducks. On the water specifically, you’ll hear paddling or raft; in flight, skein or team; and brace refers specifically to a pair, a term borrowed from old hunting terminology.
What Is a Group of Ducks Called?
A group of ducks is most often just called a flock — the generic, all-purpose term that works regardless of what the ducks are doing. But English has a surprising number of more specific duck-group terms, most of them tied to old hunting and wildfowling traditions that paid close attention to exactly what the birds were up to at any given moment.
Why Does the Term Change With What the Ducks Are Doing?
Many of the older duck terms come from the same 15th-century hunting-and-hawking tradition recorded in the Book of Saint Albans (1486), where precise, situational vocabulary was part of the sport. A paddling or raft describes ducks resting or swimming together on water. A skein or team describes ducks in organized flight, often in a V or line formation. A brace specifically means two — originally two birds taken by a hunter, later extended to any pair. Modern nature writing has mostly simplified this down to “flock” for everyday use, but the specific terms still show up in field guides and birding circles.
Duck Facts
- Ducks belong to the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and swans, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
- Most ducks are omnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, small fish, and mollusks depending on the species.
- Baby ducks are called ducklings and can typically swim within hours of hatching.
- Diving ducks (like scaup and pochards) feed by submerging completely, while dabbling ducks (like mallards) tip forward to feed near the surface without fully diving.
- Many duck species are strongly migratory, traveling in the skein/team formations that help reduce individual flight effort through drafting.
Examples in a Sentence
“A flock of ducks settled on the pond just after sunrise.”
“We watched a skein of ducks cross the sky in a loose V formation.”
Other Names for a Group of Ducks
Flock is the safe, general-purpose term. Paddling and raft are specifically for ducks on water. Skein and team describe ducks in flight. Brace refers to a pair. You may also encounter sord, flush, or bunch in older or regional collective-noun lists, though these are far less common in everyday use.
Read more in A Skein of Ducks, or see what other animal also forms a skein and what other animals form a raft.
Test Your Knowledge
1. What is the most general term for a group of ducks?
- Flock
- Herd
- Pride
- Pod
2. What is a group of ducks on water called?
- Skein
- Brace
- Paddling
- Team
3. What does “brace” specifically refer to?
- A large migrating flock
- A pair of ducks
- Ducks in flight
- A single duckling
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of ducks called?
A group of ducks is most commonly called a flock. More specific terms apply depending on what the ducks are doing: paddling or raft on water, skein or team in flight.
What is a group of ducks on water called?
A group of ducks resting or swimming together on water is called a paddling or a raft.
What is a group of ducks in flight called?
Ducks flying together in formation are called a skein or a team.
What does brace of ducks mean?
Brace specifically refers to a pair of ducks, a term that originated in hunting terminology.
What is a baby duck called?
A baby duck is called a duckling. Ducklings can typically swim within hours of hatching.