It is a question that I’ve been asked many times by many people. The answer to this question is simple: Yes, ducks have noses! They have two nostrils, located at the top of their bill.

When ducks take a breath from the water, the nostrils remain still, allowing water to flow through them and over the nostrils. The nostrils are connected to the nasal passages that drain from the bill into the throat and then into the mouth.

Do Ducks Have Nostrils?

Yes, ducks have two nostrils on the top of their bills, which stay moist during most of their life to keep the nasal passage from drying out. This moistness allows them to smell underwater and helps them identify food. 

Ducks can smell underwater because their nostrils stick up above the top of their beaks. Water doesn’t enter the nostrils, but when a duck swims, the water entering its beak runs in between its long nasal passages, allowing it to smell underwater.

The nostrils have a special valve that closes off completely when the duck dives under water to avoid any water from entering them. When Ducks don’t breathe for about 8 to 10 minutes, their blood goes back to the heart and then enters into their body tissue instead of going back into capillaries. Once this happens, they have a type of gills that allow them to breathe through their bills and not drown.

What Is A Duck’s Nose Called?

A duck’s nose is actually called a bill and is what most people would think of as its nose. The bill, also called beak, is made up of bones called coronals and is covered in hard keratin and small feathers such as the lores, and cheeks.

The bill is also used as an air intake and to help the duck find food.

Do Ducks Have A Septum?

Ducks do have a septum, which is a divided wall in the nasal passage behind the nostrils and between the two nasal chambers.

Do Ducks Have A Good Sense Of Smell?

Ducks have a very good sense of smell because they can smell food from up to 4 miles away. Ducks have excellent water and odor-detecting abilities. They are able to detect up to 20 different odors.

Ducks are able to weave elaborate patterns of new nest sites in the same place in which they have nested previously, suggesting an ability to learn and remember landmarks. Researchers say that ducks may remember where they had nesting sites or just may not be capable of remembering many landmarks.

Ducks are incredible hunters, especially during migration. The duck’s strong sense of smell allows them to keep track of the food sources over long distances and in areas very different from their typical environment, making them one of the most outstanding waterbirds on earth as far as their hunting skills go.