Ducks Have Built-in Tiny Water Filters in Their Bills
Ducks use rows of comb-like plates called lamellae inside their bills to strain water and trap tiny plants, seeds, and insects. As the duck closes its bill, water is squeezed out while food remains trapped in the lamellae, letting the duck eat without swallowing mud. This clever filtering system allows ducks to feed efficiently in ponds, lakes, and marshes.
💡 Fun detail:
Some ducks can filter out particles as small as 0.1 millimetres, the width of a fine human hair!
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology