Dove vs. Duck — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 3, 2024
Doves symbolize peace and love, while ducks are known for their aquatic abilities and distinctive quacking.
Difference Between Dove and Duck
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Doves, belonging to the Columbidae family, are recognized worldwide as symbols of peace, love, and purity, often featured in various cultural, religious, and ceremonial contexts. Their gentle appearance, highlighted by soft plumage and a distinctive cooing sound, contributes to this symbolic representation. In contrast, ducks are members of the Anatidae family, known for their waterproof feathers, webbed feet, and unique quacking sound. Ducks are highly adaptable to aquatic environments, capable of swimming, diving, and floating with ease.
The diet of doves primarily consists of seeds, fruits, and plants, making them mostly ground feeders that forage for food on the ground. Ducks, on the other hand, have a more varied diet that can include insects, aquatic plants, fish, and small amphibians, demonstrating their omnivorous nature. Ducks' feeding habits allow them to exploit a wider range of food sources, both in water and on land.
Doves are generally smaller and have sleeker bodies, which contributes to their graceful appearance. Their flight is characterized by quick, flapping wings and the ability to maneuver easily through the air. Ducks, conversely, have a sturdier build with broader bodies and shorter wings, making their flight more powerful but less agile compared to doves. Ducks are also known for their distinctive waddling walk, a result of their anatomical adaptation to aquatic life.
Regarding habitat, doves are found in a variety of environments, from rural to urban areas, and are able to adapt to different living conditions with relative ease. Ducks are most commonly found near water bodies such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and marshes, where their adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle are most advantageous.
The reproductive behaviors of doves and ducks also show distinctions. Doves, known for their monogamous nature, often mate for life, exhibiting strong pair bonds and shared parenting roles. Duck mating systems, however, can vary widely, ranging from monogamous pairings to more complex social structures, with some species exhibiting polygamous or promiscuous mating behaviors.
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Comparison Chart
Family
Columbidae
Anatidae
Symbolism
Peace, love, purity
Adaptability, quirkiness
Diet
Seeds, fruits, plants
Omnivorous: insects, plants, fish
Body Shape
Smaller, sleeker
Broader, sturdier
Flight
Quick, agile
Powerful, less agile
Habitat
Varied, including urban areas
Near water bodies
Reproduction
Monogamous, often mate for life
Varies; can be monogamous or polygamous
Compare with Definitions
Dove
A bird symbolizing peace and love.
A white dove was released at the ceremony as a sign of peace.
Duck
Omnivorous, with a varied diet.
The ducks eagerly fed on insects and aquatic plants.
Dove
Small, graceful bird with a distinctive cooing sound.
The gentle cooing of doves at dawn is soothing.
Duck
Capable of powerful but less agile flight.
A flock of ducks flew overhead, their wings beating strongly.
Dove
Ground feeder, primarily eating seeds and fruits.
Doves were spotted foraging for seeds in the garden.
Duck
An aquatic bird with waterproof feathers.
Ducks paddled across the pond, their feathers repelling water.
Dove
Known for monogamous relationships.
The pair of doves raising their young together symbolizes fidelity.
Duck
Exhibits a waddling walk on land.
The duck waddled across the path to reach the water.
Dove
Capable of quick and agile flight.
The dove swiftly dodged the branches, flying back to its nest.
Duck
Known for their distinctive quacking sound.
The sound of ducks quacking filled the air near the lake.
Dove
A stocky bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, feeding on seeds or fruit. Doves are generally smaller and more delicate than pigeons, but many kinds have been given both names.
Duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are also members of the same family.
Dove
A person who advocates peaceful or conciliatory policies, especially in foreign affairs
He was the cabinet's leading dove, the only minister to advocate peace talks
Duck
A waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
Dove
(in Christian art and poetry) the Holy Spirit (as represented in John 1:32).
Duck
A pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusc found off the Atlantic coasts of America.
Dove
Any of various widely distributed birds of the family Columbidae, which includes the pigeons, having a small head and a characteristic cooing call.
Duck
An amphibious transport vehicle
Visitors can board an amphibious duck to explore the city
Dove
A gentle, innocent person.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head.
Dove
A person who advocates peace, conciliation, or negotiation in preference to confrontation or armed conflict.
Duck
Dear; darling (used as an informal or affectionate form of address, especially among cockneys)
Where've yer been, ducks!
It's time you changed, my duck
Dove
See Columba.
Duck
A strong linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for work clothes and sails
Cotton duck
Dove
A past tense of dive1. See Usage Note at dive1.
Duck
A batsman's score of nought
He was out for a duck
Dove
(countable) A pigeon, especially one smaller in size and white-colored; a bird (often arbitrarily called either a pigeon or a dove or both) of more than 300 species of the family Columbidae.
Duck
Lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen
Spectators ducked for cover
He ducked his head and entered
Dove
A person favouring conciliation and negotiation rather than conflict.
Duck
Push or plunge (someone) under water, either playfully or as a punishment
Rufus grabbed him from behind to duck him under the surface
Dove
(countable) Term of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.
Duck
Refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons
Declarer ducked the opening spade lead
Dove
A greyish, bluish, pinkish colour like that of the bird.
Duck
Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
Dove
Strong dive
Duck
A female duck.
Dove
(non-standard) dive
Duck
The flesh of a duck used as food.
Dove
A pigeon of the genus Columba and various related genera. The species are numerous.
Duck
(Slang) A person, especially one thought of as peculiar.
Dove
A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.
O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice.
Duck
Often ducks (used with a sing. verb) Chiefly British A dear.
Dove
A person advocating peace, compromise or conciliation rather than war or conflict. Opposite of hawk.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head or body.
Dove
Any of numerous small pigeons
Duck
A plunge under water.
Dove
Someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations
Duck
A durable, closely woven heavy cotton or linen fabric.
Dove
A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Puppis and Caelum
Duck
Ducks Clothing made of duck, especially white pants.
Dove
Flesh of a pigeon suitable for roasting or braising; flesh of a dove (young squab) may be broiled
Duck
An amphibious military truck used during World War II.
Dove
An emblem of peace
Duck
A similar vehicle used for civilian purposes, as to evacuate flood victims or for sightseeing tours. In both senses also called DUKW.
Duck
To lower quickly, especially so as to avoid something
Ducked his head as the ball came toward him.
Duck
To evade; dodge
Duck responsibility.
Ducked the reporter's question.
Duck
To push (a person, for example) suddenly under water.
Duck
In bridge, to deliberately play a card that is lower than (an opponent's card).
Duck
To lower the head or body.
Duck
To move swiftly, especially so as to escape being seen
Ducked behind a bush.
Duck
To submerge the head or body briefly in water.
Duck
To evade a responsibility or obligation. Often used with out
Duck out on one's family.
Duck
In bridge, to lose a trick by deliberately playing lower than one's opponent.
Duck
(intransitive) To quickly lower the head or body, often in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
Duck! There's a branch falling off the tree!
Duck
(transitive) To quickly lower (the head or body), often in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
Duck
(transitive) To lower (something) into water; to thrust or plunge under liquid and suddenly withdraw.
Duck
(intransitive) To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to plunge one's head into water or other liquid.
Duck
(intransitive) To bow.
Duck
(transitive) To evade doing something.
Duck
(transitive) To lower the volume of (a sound) so that other sounds in the mix can be heard more clearly.
Duck
(intransitive) To enter a place for a short moment.
I'm just going to duck into the loo for a minute, can you hold my bag?
Duck
(caving) A cave passage containing water with low, or no, airspace.
Duck
An aquatic bird of the family Anatidae, having a flat bill and webbed feet.
Duck
Specifically, an adult female duck; contrasted with drake and with duckling.
Duck
(uncountable) The flesh of a duck used as food.
Duck
(cricket) A batsman's score of zero after getting out. (short for duck's egg, since the digit "0" is round like an egg.)
Duck
(slang) A playing card with the rank of two.
Duck
A building intentionally constructed in the shape of an everyday object to which it is related.
A luncheonette in the shape of a coffee cup is particularly conspicuous, as is intended of an architectural duck or folly.
Duck
A marble to be shot at with another marble (the shooter) in children's games.
Duck
(US) A cairn used to mark a trail.
Duck
One of the weights used to hold a spline in place for the purpose of drawing a curve.
Duck
Synonym of lame duck
Duck
(medicine) A long-necked medical urinal for men.
Duck
A faggot; a meatball made from offal.
Duck
A tightly-woven cotton fabric used as sailcloth.
Duck
(in plural) Trousers made of such material.
Duck
A term of endearment; pet; darling.
Duck
(Midlands) Dear, mate (informal way of addressing a friend or stranger).
Ay up duck, ow'a'tha?
Duck
A pet; a darling.
Duck
A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than canvas, - used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of beds, and sometimes for men's clothing.
Duck
The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates.
Duck
Any bird of the subfamily Anatinæ, family Anatidæ.
Duck
A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water.
Here be, without duck or nod,Other trippings to be trod.
Duck
To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly withdraw.
Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice, leaped out of the tub.
Duck
To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy.
Duck
To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion.
Duck
To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip.
In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day.
Duck
To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow.
The learned pateDucks to the golden fool.
Duck
Small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
Duck
(cricket) a score of nothing by a batsman
Duck
Flesh of a duck (domestic or wild)
Duck
A heavy cotton fabric of plain weave; used for clothing and tents
Duck
To move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away;
Before he could duck, another stone struck him
Duck
Submerge or plunge suddenly
Duck
Dip into a liquid;
He dipped into the pool
Duck
Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues);
He dodged the issue
She skirted the problem
They tend to evade their responsibilities
He evaded the questions skillfully
Common Curiosities
Are doves considered as domestic pets more often than ducks?
Doves are commonly kept as pets for their gentle nature and symbolic meanings, while ducks are less commonly domesticated as pets but are often raised on farms.
Which bird is easier to care for as a pet?
Doves might be easier to care for due to their smaller size and simpler diet, but this can vary based on individual circumstances.
Which bird is more social?
Ducks are generally more social and can be seen in larger groups compared to doves, which are often seen in pairs or small flocks.
Can doves and ducks interbreed?
No, they belong to different families and are genetically incompatible.
Do doves and ducks have the same predators?
They share some common predators like hawks and foxes, but their specific predators can vary due to their different habitats.
Can both doves and ducks be found in urban areas?
Yes, both can adapt to urban environments, though ducks are more often found near urban water bodies.
Are doves or ducks more vocal?
Ducks are typically more vocal, known for their loud quacking, whereas doves have a softer, cooing call.
Do both birds migrate?
Many species of ducks migrate, but dove migration varies by species. Some doves migrate, while others remain in the same area year-round.
How do the nesting habits of doves and ducks differ?
Doves typically build nests in trees or on ledges, while ducks nest on the ground near water bodies, often hiding their nests in dense vegetation.
Which has a more varied diet?
Ducks have a more varied diet due to their omnivorous nature, allowing them to eat a wide range of food items.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
