What is Anatidaephobia?

There are many kinds of seemingly irrational fears and phobias prevalent in the world. What might be laughing matter to people, is not so to a phobic. Anatidaephobia is one such phobia. A person suffering from this condition feels that somewhere in the world, a duck or a goose is watching him/her (not attacking or touching, simply watching the individual).

The word Anatidaephobia is derived from Greek word ‘Anatidae’ which means ducks, geese or other water fowls, and phobos is Greek for dread/fear.

More Info: www.fearof.net

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29 Comments

Grant McIntosh

I'm guessing that somebody with anatidaephobia was freaked out as child when their rubber duck watched them naked in the bath.

Jeannie Ellis

Maybe there are ducks watching us all. All the time but only those with this phobia are aware of it.

kotakat

Lynne Zeman, I have SEVERE Aracnophobia. I have caused damage to cars, offices and have literally jumped out of a moving car because of spiders. I get the jitters just looking at pictures of them. I have sought help and can deal with little ones now and even dispose of ones up to the size of a dime. But will shake for quite some time after. We can trace the reason, and it has to do with being a baby sister of three big brothers and several older male cousins, and growing up on a ranch in SE Oklahoma. Will go no farther than that. To other people, a phobic is funny. To a phobic, it is a real, terrifying and consuming fear!

Peter Thomas

Suraya Choudhury, fear of birds in general is Ornithophobia, this one is specifically waterfowl - ducks, geese etc.

Peter Thomas

Toni Tanouye, indeed they are - but this phobia is specifically waterfowl - ducks, geese etc - not all birds...

Toni Tanouye

Ducks are birds!!!

Mark L Thomas

I remember Bert and Ernie singing in the bath tub my little rubber ducky 🤪

Suraya Choudhury

I thought that it was the fear of birds !

Sandra Caulfield

Maybe that is where the term "loony bin" comes from.

Chris Braid

Common pub quiz question, thankfully.

Maho girl

Wow I think I will go back to bed this is the first time I have absolutely gotten no correct answers out of all 10 questions

Lynne Zeman

I thought this answer was odd enough to be a possibility but discounted it. I had a co-worker who was truely terrified by birds after watching the movie "The Birds" as a child, but I didn't think phobias would be specific to a type of bird such as waterfowl. But then phobias are certainly not rational, are they?

Chrissy Krainock Luders

I’m not sure I would care if a duck is watching me, especially “somewhere in the world”. Are they going to tell other ducks? Do the beady eyes freak them out? Interesting phobia. They’ve probably got neighbors they should rationally be more concerned about watching them.