“Duck People” comes from a common Thai metaphor used to describe someone who can do many things but is not considered a specialist in any of them. Like a duck itself: it can fly, but not as well as other birds; it can swim, but not as well as a fish; and it can walk, though a bit clumsily compared to other two-legged animals.

The Migratory Flock : an essential field guide to duck people.
This zine explains the idea of duck people by merging the behaviour of ducks with the lives of people who can do many things but aren’t specialists. It explores what duck people are, how they think, and how they live. More than just an explanation, it creates a space for them to feel represented, and invites readers to recognise that they might be part of the flock too.

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The shape of this zine is inspired by the broken-comb model, often used to describe people with a wide range of skills at different levels. When folded, it looks ordinary, but once unfolded into an accordion, it reveals the overwhelming range of abilities that duck people carry.

Blending speculative stories with interviews, the content combines the traits of ducks as animals with the lived experiences of duck people, who often feel “not good enough” but have unique and adaptable skills.

Printed with Risograph, the zine embraces vibrant colours and imperfections that communicate the nature of duck people: not perfect, not the best, but valuable in their way. Varying papers, mixed typefaces, and field guide–inspired graphics reinforce the diversity and resourcefulness of duck people, while the folding structure reflects their layered and adaptive ways of living.