Differences Between Geese & Ducks

Ducks and geese belong to the same family, Anatidae, which also includes swans. Ducks are more commonly hunted for sport and food. Ducks and geese look very much alike, prefer the water and behave similarly. Although sometimes mistaken for one another, a few key differences separate these two animals.

  1. Nomenclature

    • Male ducks are often times referred to as drakes and baby ducks are called ducklings. Male geese are referred to as ganders and baby geese are called goslings.

    Appearance

    • Geese are usually a bit more elegant than duck, as they have longer graceful necks. Ducks tend to be squatter and stockier than geese. Geese are generally bigger than ducks, but they are smaller than swans. Ducks also come in an array of colors ranging from orange, green, black and yellow. Geese tend to be one of three colors: gray, black, or white. Geese are also different on their feet, which has more webbing than that of a duck.

    Food and Eating

    • Ducks can be found in freshwater or saltwater. They prefer aquatic environments, but they also walk on land. Ducks hunt for food under the water, so their diet includes plants, small fish, mollusks and insects. Geese also inhabit an aquatic environment but prefer a vegetarian diet. They enjoy eating leafy greens instead of fish and insects. Geese have also been known to nest inside tree holes; ducks do not do this.

    Sounds

    • The quacking sound made by a duck is highly recognizable and a defining characteristic of this animal. A goose makes a completely different sound. They have a high-pitched honking sound.

    Behavior

    • Geese are known to mate for life, but it isn't unheard of for geese to separate from one another and find new mates. Geese do not lay as many eggs as ducks. Geese males and females both protect their eggs.