It may sound like a load of quackers but according to new research ducks have regional accents and character traits akin to those shown by their human counterparts.

"Cockney" ducks from London make a rougher louder sound so their fellow quackers can here them above the city's hubbub. They're also known to do a mean Dick Van Dyke impression and complain vociferously about the tube, so much so, that it's now almost impossible to see a duck taking the tube to work.

In contrast, their country cousins communicate with a softer, more relaxed sound, and tend to mate with their cousins.

Ducks from the north meanwhile were shown to have the last amount of plummage irrespective of how cold it is.

"What this shows" said Dr Victoria De Rijke, who has been nicknamed Dr Quack and who likes to be served with orange, "is that ducks and humans have a lot in common".

Indeed.

Posted by damian at June 04, 2004 02:45 PM | TrackBack