The answer is no, they do not have eyelashes. If you look close enough you can see a very fine line of thin hair around the eye but it cannot be considered an eyelash.
Ducks have a protective covering over their eyes called the nictitating membrane. This membrane is similar to the human eyelid and works as a protection against dust, dirt, and even water. The membrane is transparent, so your pet duck probably can see out of its eyes just fine with or without it. So even if they don’t have eyelashes, your pet duck will still be able to take in its surroundings without a problem.
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The Importance Of Eyelashes In Animals
Eyelashes are hairs on the edge of the eyelid. They help to keep dust and other particles from entering and irritating the eye. This is why animals that live in sand environments or that don’t have a protective covering over their eyes usually have very long eyelashes.
In humans, the eyelashes work much in the same way as other animals. They help keep dirt and dust from entering the eye. People, usually grow longer with more use of their eyes. The eyelashes also help the eye to secrete tears, which helps to keep them lubricated.
In ducks, and other birds this function is performed by the nictitating membrane, which is a third eyelid found in birds and other reptiles.
Do Ducks Blink?
Yes, ducks do blink, but in a different way than other animals, like humans for example. Ducks usually have an extra flap of skin that closes over the eye. This is called a nictitating membrane. This extra flap of skin is thought to help prevent dust and dirt from getting into the eye.
This membrane typically appears like a small eyelid flapping over each eye. It may also appear like a thin sheet of skin that is floating over the eyes. It’s typically cream, yellow, or white and may be clear in normal eyes. The membrane develops at about the same time that the eye develops. Usually, it is an even tone color to the area around it, but some membranes are darker than others.
The nictitating membrane also helps keep tears secreted in the eye as well as lubricates the eye.
It is thought that this extra flap of skin helps keep dust and dirt out of the eye by pushing them away from the eye. Therefore, this helps prevent infections from developing on their cornea (the outer covering of the eyeball).
Conclusion
Ducks do not have eyelashes, but they do have a third eyelid called the nictitating membrane. This membrane is connected to the eye, and it works by protecting the eye from dust and dirt.
It also acts as a way to keep tears secreted and lubricate the eye.
See Also: Is Mulch Safe For Ducks?
