Duck vs. Goose — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 16, 2023
A duck is a smaller, web-footed waterfowl with a broad flat bill, while a goose is larger, often migratory, and has a more tapered bill.
Difference Between Duck and Goose
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Key Differences
Ducks and geese are both waterfowl belonging to the Anatidae family. However, there are some distinguishing features that set them apart. Ducks are generally smaller in size with compact bodies. Their bills are broad and flat, which aids in sifting through water to find food. Geese, on the other hand, are more substantial and possess long necks. Their bills are more tapered compared to ducks.
When observing behavior, ducks are often seen dabbling in water, which means they tip forward into the water to feed, with their tails sticking up in the air. They are versatile in terms of habitat and can be found in both freshwater and marine environments. Geese primarily graze on land, feasting on grass and other terrestrial plants. They are also known for their impressive migratory patterns, traveling vast distances in V-shaped formations.
Ducks exhibit a diverse range of colors and patterns on their feathers. Some species have iridescent colors, while others might be more muted or camouflaged. Geese generally have more subdued, monochromatic colorations, typically in shades of gray, white, or black. This helps them blend into their natural environments, especially during migrations.
Another interesting distinction is their vocalizations. Ducks can quack, whistle, or grunt, producing a wide variety of sounds. Geese are known for their honking, which can be loud and resonant, especially during their migratory flights.
Lastly, when it comes to domestication, ducks and geese have both been domesticated for various purposes, including meat, eggs, and ornamental reasons. While both can be found on farms, geese are often used as "guard animals" due to their protective nature.
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Comparison Chart
Size
Smaller with compact bodies.
Larger with long necks.
Bill Shape
Broad and flat.
Tapered.
Feeding Behavior
Dabble in water.
Graze on land.
Coloration
Diverse range of colors and patterns.
Typically monochromatic (gray, white, black).
Vocalizations
Quacks, whistles, grunts.
Known for honking.
Compare with Definitions
Duck
A web-footed waterfowl with a broad flat bill.
The duck swam gracefully across the pond.
Goose
A waterbird that often travels in flocks.
A flock of geese settled on the field for the night.
Duck
A bird adapted to swimming and often found in wetlands.
The duck dove underwater in search of food.
Goose
A goose (plural geese) is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera Anser (the grey geese and white geese) and Branta (the black geese).
Duck
A waterbird known for its quacking vocalizations.
We heard the unmistakable quack of a duck nearby.
Goose
A large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short broad bill. Generally geese are larger than ducks and have longer necks and shorter bills.
Duck
A bird with waterproof feathers and an oily coat.
The rain rolled off the duck's back, keeping it dry.
Goose
A foolish person
‘Silly goose,’ he murmured fondly
Duck
A versatile bird found in both freshwater and marine habitats.
The duck migrated to warmer climates in winter.
Goose
A tailor's smoothing iron.
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.
Goose
Poke (someone) in the bottom.
Duck
A waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
Goose
Give (something) a boost; invigorate
The government's desire to goose the tired housing market
Duck
A pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusc found off the Atlantic coasts of America.
Goose
Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, and especially of the genera Anser, Branta, and Chen, characteristically having a shorter neck than that of a swan and a shorter, more pointed bill than that of a duck.
Duck
An amphibious transport vehicle
Visitors can board an amphibious duck to explore the city
Goose
The female of such a bird.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head.
Goose
The flesh of such a bird used as food.
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
Goose
(Informal) A silly person.
Duck
A strong linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for work clothes and sails
Cotton duck
Goose
Pl. goos·es A tailor's pressing iron with a long curved handle.
Duck
A batsman's score of nought
He was out for a duck
Goose
(Slang) A poke, prod, or pinch between or on the buttocks.
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
Goose
To poke, prod, or pinch (a person) between or on the buttocks.
Duck
Push or plunge (someone) under water, either playfully or as a punishment
Rufus grabbed him from behind to duck him under the surface
Goose
To move to action; spur
Goosed the governor to sign the tax bill.
Duck
Refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons
Declarer ducked the opening spade lead
Goose
To give a spurt of fuel to (a car, for example); cause to accelerate quickly
"The pilot goosed his craft, powering away" (Nicholas Proffitt).
Duck
Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
Goose
Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, which have feathers and webbed feet and are capable of flying, swimming, and walking on land, and which are bigger than ducks.
There is a flock of geese on the pond.
Duck
A female duck.
Goose
A female goose (sense 1).
Duck
The flesh of a duck used as food.
Goose
The flesh of the goose used as food.
Duck
(Slang) A person, especially one thought of as peculiar.
Goose
A silly person.
Duck
Often ducks (used with a sing. verb) Chiefly British A dear.
Goose
(archaic) A tailor's iron, heated in live coals or embers, used to press fabrics.
Duck
A quick lowering of the head or body.
Goose
A young woman or girlfriend.
Duck
A plunge under water.
Goose
An old English board game in which players moved counters along a board, earning a double move when they reached the picture of a goose.
Duck
A durable, closely woven heavy cotton or linen fabric.
Goose
To sharply poke or pinch the buttocks of (a person).
Duck
Ducks Clothing made of duck, especially white pants.
Goose
(transitive) To stimulate; to spur.
Duck
An amphibious military truck used during World War II.
Goose
To gently accelerate (an automobile or machine), or give repeated small taps on the accelerator.
Duck
A similar vehicle used for civilian purposes, as to evacuate flood victims or for sightseeing tours. In both senses also called DUKW.
Goose
(UK slang) Of private-hire taxi drivers, to pick up a passenger who has not booked a cab. This is unauthorised under UK licensing conditions.
Duck
To lower quickly, especially so as to avoid something
Ducked his head as the ball came toward him.
Goose
To hiss (a performer) off the stage.
Duck
To evade; dodge
Duck responsibility.
Ducked the reporter's question.
Goose
Any large web-footen bird of the subfamily Anserinæ, and belonging to Anser, Branta, Chen, and several allied genera. See Anseres.
Duck
To push (a person, for example) suddenly under water.
Goose
Any large bird of other related families, resembling the common goose.
Duck
In bridge, to deliberately play a card that is lower than (an opponent's card).
Goose
A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from its handle, which resembles the neck of a goose.
Duck
To lower the head or body.
Goose
A silly creature; a simpleton.
Duck
To move swiftly, especially so as to escape being seen
Ducked behind a bush.
Goose
A game played with counters on a board divided into compartments, in some of which a goose was depicted.
The pictures placed for ornament and use,The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.
Duck
To submerge the head or body briefly in water.
Goose
Web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
Duck
To evade a responsibility or obligation. Often used with out
Duck out on one's family.
Goose
A man who is a stupid incompetent fool
Duck
In bridge, to lose a trick by deliberately playing lower than one's opponent.
Goose
Flesh of a goose (domestic or wild)
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!
Goose
A large waterfowl known for its migratory behavior.
The goose flew overhead in a V-shaped formation.
Duck
(transitive) To quickly lower (the head or body), often in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
Goose
A bird with a long neck and a tapered bill.
The goose honked loudly at the approaching threat.
Duck
(transitive) To lower (something) into water; to thrust or plunge under liquid and suddenly withdraw.
Goose
A primarily terrestrial feeder, grazing on grass and plants.
The goose nibbled on the green grass by the lakeside.
Duck
(intransitive) To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to plunge one's head into water or other liquid.
Goose
A bird domesticated for meat, eggs, and as guard animals.
The farmer kept a goose to ward off intruders.
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
What family do both ducks and geese belong to?
Both ducks and geese belong to the Anatidae family.
Do ducks have a wider variety of vocalizations compared to geese?
Ducks produce a range of sounds, from quacks to whistles, while geese are mainly known for honking.
Which bird, duck or goose, is more likely to graze on land?
Geese are primarily terrestrial feeders and often graze on land.
What distinguishes a duck's bill from a goose's bill?
Ducks have broad, flat bills, while geese have more tapered bills.
Are geese known for their migratory behavior?
Yes, many species of geese are migratory and travel vast distances.
Are all geese migratory?
Not all, but many species of geese exhibit migratory behavior.
Are ducks generally smaller than geese?
Yes, ducks are typically smaller and more compact than geese.
Which bird is commonly used as a "guard animal" on farms?
Geese are often used as "guard animals" on farms due to their protective nature.
Can ducks be found in marine environments?
Yes, some duck species inhabit both freshwater and marine environments.
Is the coloration of geese typically more subdued than that of ducks?
Yes, geese usually have monochromatic colorations, while ducks can have diverse patterns and colors.
Are ducks known for their dabbling behavior?
Yes, ducks often dabble in water, tipping forward to feed.
Do both ducks and geese have webbed feet?
Yes, both ducks and geese have webbed feet, suited for swimming.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
