What is the action of a Diving Duck when taking off?

Diving ducks exhibit a specific behavior when taking off that involves running on top of the water. This action is essential for gaining enough speed to become airborne. These ducks, being heavier and designed for diving, require a short distance to achieve the necessary lift. By skimming across the water's surface, they can build up speed before flapping their wings to achieve flight.

Landing directly on water pertains to their landing strategy rather than takeoff. Flapping wings rapidly could describe various bird species trying to gain altitude but isn't specific to the diving duck's method of takeoff. Launching into the air with a somersault is not characteristic of diving ducks; instead, it describes a more acrobatic maneuver that is not related to their standard takeoff procedure. Therefore, the action of running on top of the water effectively illustrates the optimal method that diving ducks utilize to become airborne.