STRANGE

[MORELLO]

Does anyone know why it is that a ducks 'quack' doesn't echo?

[woofgang]

it does!!!

[New Forester]

Strange if true.  However, not true.

[Quizmonster]

Scientists - most recently (September 2003) in the Department of Acoustics at Salford University - have yet again proved it's a complete myth that a duck's quack does not echo.  It is not a wholly groundless myth in one respect only...that is, that the acoustics of a quack are such that they tend to �mask' the echo, which can make it sound as if there isn't one. Apparently, the sound of a quack decays very gradually and the echo returns as the initial sound is still fading away, rather than after it has �disappeared' completely.  Thus, the echo is partially concealed but it is still there!

[New Forester]

As an aside -- many (most?) species of duck do not quack.  They may croak, whistle, peep and all sorts of other noises.

 

The duck we are used to hearing quack is the mallard, which is the same species as domestic ducks (except the Muscovy).  I think I'm right that it's only the drakes that quack.

 

[SteveD]

Could it be because ducks don't usually live in places likely to generate an echo?

 

[Wraith]

You're not alone MORELLO, I too made this mistake thinking that a ducks quack doesn't echo. The good people of AB put me right. So far Quizmonster's answer is the best I've read by way of an explanation.

[peanut]

as prevoiusly stated, a ducks quack does echo. you cant hear it cuz it sounds exactly the same as the quack not like an echo. I saw it demonstrated on an episode of myth busters.

[Phantaxus]

conclusively proved incorrect by John Tickle in the first series of Brainiac