Ducks are some of the most adaptable and resilient birds in the world, thriving everywhere from Arctic tundras to tropical wetlands. Yet, their lifespans vary widely—from just a few years to over two decades—depending on their species, habitat, and luck in surviving the first vulnerable months of life.

The following analysis, based on data from 120+ duck species, reveals fascinating insights into how long ducks live, what affects their longevity, and which species stand out as record-breakers.

Duck Lifespans of 120+ Species

Lifespan	Duck Species
Very Short Lifespan (<5 Years)	Black-headed Duck (4-5 yrs), Bufflehead (2.5 yrs), Marbled Duck (3-5 yrs), Paradise Shelduck (2.3 yrs), Pink-eared Duck (2-3 yrs), Rosy-billed Pochard (2 yrs), Tufted Duck (4-5 yrs), Wood Duck (3-4 yrs)
5-10 Years	American Wigeon, Andaman Teal, Andean Teal, Black Scoter, Blue Duck / Whio, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Freckled Duck, Gadwall, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Lake Duck, Maccoa Duck, Mallard, Masked Duck, Plumed Whistling Duck, Radjah Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Smew
8-12 Years	Indian Runner Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Spotted Whistling Duck, Velvet Scoter
Around 10 Years	Brazilian Teal, Canvasback, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Hartlaub’s Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Philippine Duck, Puna Teal
10-12 Years	Southern Pochard, White-cheeked Pintail, White-faced Whistling Duck, White-winged Duck
10-15 Years	African Black Duck, Andean Duck, Auckland Teal, Australian Shelduck, Baer’s Pochard, Blue-billed Duck, Bronze-winged Duck, Brazilian Merganser, Chestnut Teal, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Common Pochard, Common Shelduck, Common Teal, Crested Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Ferruginous Duck, Greater Scaup, Laysan Duck/Teal, Meller’s Duck, New Zealand Scaup, Ringed Teal, Scaly-sided Merganser, Silver Teal, South African Shelduck, Stejneger’s Scoter, Sunda Teal, White-backed Duck, White-headed Duck, White-headed Steamer-Duck, White-winged Scoter, Yellow-billed Pintail, Yellow-billed Teal
12-15 Years	Harlequin Duck, Lesser Scaup (14-18 yrs), Torrent Duck (12-18) yrs
10-20 Years	Cape Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Falcated Duck, Flying Steamer Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Red Shoveler, West Indian Whistling Duck
Around 15 Years	Bernier’s Teal, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Hardhead, Long-Tailed Duck, Maned Duck
15-20 Years	Common Eider (14-20 yrs), Falkland Steamer Duck, King Eider, Barrow’s Goldeneye (15-18 yrs)
Around 20 Years	Baikal Teal, Chiloé Wigeon, Fuegian Steamer Duck, Green-winged Teal (up to 20 yrs), Lesser Whistling Duck, Northern Pintail, Patagonian Crested Duck
Over 20 Years	American Black Duck (27 yrs), Comb Duck (25 yrs), Steller’s Eider (20-25 yrs), Yellow-billed Duck (20-25 yrs), Chubut Steamer Duck (up to 20 yrs)
Variable Ranges	Grey Teal (4-9 yrs), Red-billed Teal (4-15 yrs), Spectacled Eider (4-15 yrs), Mandarin Duck (6-7 yrs), Red-breasted Merganser (9 yrs), Ruddy Shelduck (9 yrs), Surf Scoter (9.5 yrs), Wandering Whistling Duck (5-12 yrs), Mottled Duck (5-13 yrs), Ruddy Duck (13 yrs),  Madagascar Pochard (5-15 yrs), Garganey (5-15 yrs),  Blue-winged Teal (10-17 yrs), Hawaiian Duck (13-18 yrs), Redhead (21 yrs), Brown Teal (21 yrs)

The Big Picture: Average Lifespan of Ducks

Across all species, most ducks live between 8 and 12 years in the wild. That’s roughly the same lifespan as a medium-sized dog. However, there’s a broad range—from species that rarely live beyond five years to those known to surpass 25.

Several factors influence these differences:

• Body size – Generally, larger ducks (like shelducks and eiders) live longer than smaller, lighter dabbling ducks.

• Habitat quality – Ducks in clean, protected wetlands or mountain rivers tend to have higher survival rates.

• Predation and breeding strategy – Ducks that produce large clutches (like Mallards) offset their high chick mortality rates by sheer numbers.

• Human impact – Pollution, hunting, and habitat loss can sharply shorten wild lifespans.

In captivity, however, many ducks can live up to 20 years or more, given proper care, diet, and safety from predators.

Early Life: The Toughest Challenge

Before even hatching, ducklings face overwhelming odds. Out of every 100 eggs, only about 15 hatch successfully. Of those hatchlings, less than half survive their first year. Predators, disease, and harsh weather are constant threats. But once a duck can fly and fend for itself, its survival chances increase dramatically.

That means that when you spot an adult duck in the wild, you’re looking at one of the lucky few that made it through nature’s toughest test.

Short-Lived Species (<5 Years)

A handful of species live fast and short lives. These include the Pink-eared Duck, Rosy-billed Pochard, and Paradise Shelduck, with lifespans averaging between 2 and 5 years. These ducks often inhabit unpredictable environments where drought, predation, or migration stress limits longevity.

Despite their short lives, they compensate by breeding early and raising large broods—an evolutionary tradeoff that keeps populations stable.

Middle Lifespans (5–12 Years)

This group represents the majority of duck species. Familiar names like the Mallard, Gadwall, and American Wigeon all fall within this range.

Species that live 5–10 years tend to inhabit temperate wetlands and lakes, while those that stretch up to 12 years—like the Indian Runner Duck or Velvet Scoter—often have more stable food sources and fewer natural predators.

The Blue Duck (Whio) of New Zealand is a notable example in this group. Though it lives about a decade, its specialized mountain stream habitat makes conservation crucial to maintain stable populations.

Long-Lived Ducks (10–15 Years)

Once ducks survive their early years, many can enjoy surprisingly long lives. Over 40 species in the dataset fall into this range, including mountain favorites like the Australian Shelduck, Torrent Duck, and Common Merganser.

These species often nest in protected riverbanks or tree hollows, and many form long-term pair bonds, reducing risks during breeding seasons.

Some, like the Scaly-sided Merganser or Brazilian Merganser, depend on pristine rivers—highlighting how water quality directly influences duck longevity.

The Veterans: 15–20+ Years

At the upper end are the duck world’s endurance champions—species capable of living nearly two decades or more.

• Common Eiders, King Eiders, and Barrow’s Goldeneyes can all surpass 15 years, with some individuals known to reach 18 or 20.

• American Black Ducks and Comb Ducks have been recorded at 25 years or more—astonishing for birds that face so many natural hazards.

• Even smaller species like the Green-winged Teal can make it to 20 years, proving that good genetics and favorable environments can stretch life expectancy far beyond the average.

These long-lived ducks typically inhabit cold, northern or mountainous waters, where fewer diseases and predators give them a better chance to age gracefully.

Not All Lifespans Are Fixed

Some species show highly variable lifespans, such as the Grey Teal (4–9 years) or the Red-billed Teal (4–15 years). These variations likely reflect differences in environment, predation pressure, and migration routes.

Others, like the Mandarin Duck and Ruddy Shelduck, show moderate lifespans under ten years in the wild but can live much longer in captivity.