What is "duck decoy"

n. 1 A structure used to catch wildfowl, consisting of a central pond and radiating water-filled arms. 2 A model duck used to attract other ducks.

A duck decoy is a device to capture wild ducks or other species of waterfowl. Formerly the birds were slaughtered and used for food. More recently they have also been used for ornithological research.

Duck decoy is an ambiguous term which may be applied to:

• Duck decoy (structure), a device used to catch wildfowl consisting of a central pond and radiating water-filled arms
• Duck decoy (model), a model duck used to attract other ducks

A duck decoy is a man-made object resembling a real duck. Duck decoys are sometimes used in duck hunting to attract real ducks.

Duck decoys were historically carved from wood, often Atlantic white cedar wood on the east coast from Maine to South Carolina, or cork. Modern ones may also be made of canvas and plastic. They are usually painted, often elaborately and very accurately, to resemble various kinds of waterfowl.