Although stifftails, pochards, and sea ducks all dive for food, there are as many differences among them as similarities. Scaup, canvasbacks, redheads, ring-necked ducks, and their cousins elsewhere around the world demonstrate their relatedness by traits other than diving.

What kind of duck dives underwater?

The diving ducks, commonly called pochards or scaups, are a category of duck which feed by diving beneath the surface of the water. They are part of Anatidae, the diverse and very large family that includes ducks, geese, and swans. The diving ducks are placed in a distinct tribe in the subfamily Anatinae, the Aythyini.

Do all ducks go underwater?

Now, keeping in mind not all ducks are built to withstand the same conditions, on average a diver duck can stay underwater for up to a minute. Ducks can be split into two categories: Divers and Dabblers. The ducks that stick to shallow water and rely on tipping their heads under water for food are Dabblers.