- Sort Them Ducks duck locations cover two sides of one loop: unsorted supply piles and themed destination shelves.
- Shelf matching: read costumes like pirates, wizards, and astronauts to decide where each duck belongs.
- Missing ducks: sweep one store section at a time instead of repeating full-store searches.
- Location upgrades: shelf reveals and matching-duck highlights make finding and confirming spots much faster.
- Secret eggs: hidden separately from shelves and tied to optional completion goals.
How Duck Locations Work in Sort Them Ducks
In Sort Them Ducks, duck locations cover both halves of the core loop: where each rubber duck starts, and where it needs to end up. Every one of the 4,000+ unique ducks begins in the unsorted supply scattered around the store, and every duck has a final home on the themed shelf that matches its category. Your job is to read each duck's costume, decide its group, and carry it to the correct shelf to earn money.
Because the store contains hundreds of categories, location knowledge compounds quickly. Players who memorize where the pirate, wizard, and astronaut shelves sit spend far less time searching after every pickup, and that saved travel time is exactly what funds your early upgrades. Treat the store as a route to learn, not a space to wander.
| Location Type | What You Find There | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| Unsorted supply piles | Ducks waiting to be sorted | Pick up, inspect costume, identify category |
| Themed shelves | Sorted ducks grouped by category | Place matching ducks to earn money |
| High surfaces and ledges | Ducks placed above easy reach | Approach from angles or nearby surfaces |
| Corners and gaps | Overlooked ducks behind or between objects | Check during systematic section sweeps |
| Hidden environment spots | Secret eggs, separate from shelf items | Track separately for completion goals |
Once you learn where a category's shelf sits, you stop searching for it on every trip. Prioritize memorizing the shelves you visit most often before chasing rare or awkwardly placed ducks.
Shelf Locations by Duck Category
Each shelf represents one themed category, and the shelf is your answer to the "where does this duck go" question. Identification runs entirely through visual clues: costumes, hats, helmets, armor, props, and accessories. The six groups below are the most recognizable starting categories, and they teach the pattern you will apply to every harder group afterward.
| Category | Visual Clues | Shelf-Matching Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Pirates | Pirate clothing, seafaring accessories | Check pirate costume details before comparing with general historical groups |
| Wizards | Magic-themed clothing, wizard accessories | Use magical clothing to separate wizards from other fantasy ducks |
| Astronauts | Space suits, helmets, exploration styling | Helmet and suit design are the strongest clues |
| Knights | Medieval armor, knight equipment | Armor is the clearest separator from other historical ducks |
| Chefs | Cooking clothing, kitchen accessories | Look for recognizable chef outfit details |
| Dinosaurs | Dinosaur costume, prehistoric creature styling | Focus on creature design rather than base color |
Pirates
- Strong costume signals
- Seafaring props and hats
- Check before historical groups
Wizards
- Magic robes and accessories
- Distinct from generic fantasy
- Props confirm the theme
Astronauts
- Helmet is the key clue
- Full suit styling
- Rarely confused once spotted
Knights
- Armor defines the duck
- Medieval equipment sets
- Compare against pirates first
Chefs
- Kitchen outfit details
- Cooking accessories
- Quick visual confirmation
Dinosaurs
- Creature design over color
- Prehistoric styling
- Ignore base color entirely
Compare the single strongest clue, such as a helmet, hat, or armor piece, rather than overall color. Base color is the weakest signal in the game because many categories share similar palettes.
Step-by-Step: Sort Ducks and Lock In Locations
Use this workflow every session until it becomes automatic. The goal is to convert each pickup into a confident shelf decision without backtracking across the store.
Collect from the Unsorted Supply
Gather several ducks per trip once your carry capacity allows. Before picking up, glance at each costume so you are not carrying a mystery load back to the shelves.
Read the Costume
Identify the category from the strongest visual clue: helmet, hat, armor, or prop. Confirm the theme before moving so you never walk to the wrong shelf.
Confirm the Destination Shelf
Recall or reveal the shelf that matches the category. If you recognize the theme but not the position, shelf-reveal abilities close that gap instantly.
Place the Duck and Bank the Money
Correct placement earns money on the spot. Reinvest those earnings into capacity and speed so the next loop runs faster than the last.
Mark Problem Locations
When a duck is too high, awkward, or ambiguous, note the spot mentally and move on. Clean these up during the late-game sweep instead of stalling progression.
Sort ducks that share a shelf, or shelves near each other, in the same trip. Grouping nearby tasks cuts empty travel time more than any single upgrade in the early game.
Missing Ducks and Hard-to-Reach Spots
Late-game completion stops being about sorting large groups and becomes about individual ducks that were overlooked, placed high up, or left in awkward areas. Work the problem systematically instead of repeating the same visible routes.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fastest Fix |
|---|---|---|
| One duck missing from a category | Overlooked corner, high surface, or quick-pass area | Sweep only that category's likely areas |
| Duck visible but unreachable | High placement or awkward angle | Approach from nearby surfaces or a different direction |
| Category will not complete | Duck stuck or hidden out of sight | Reload the session, then recheck the area |
| Store not fully complete | An unfinished category or progression objective | Check every incomplete category first |
Systematic Sweep Checklist:
- Divide the store into sections and sweep one fully before moving on
- Check high surfaces, corners, and gaps inside each section
- Recheck unfinished categories after buying movement upgrades
- Handle easy visible ducks before hunting difficult locations
- Compare remaining progress with the achievement list
Repeatedly searching the entire map for one duck wastes sessions. Narrow the search using the incomplete category and the areas you visited least carefully, then sweep only those.
Upgrades That Reveal Duck Locations Faster
The upgrade system directly attacks both location problems: finding ducks faster and confirming where they belong. Money earned from correct sorting should flow straight back into these abilities.
| Upgrade | Location Benefit | Buy Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Carry Capacity | More ducks moved per trip between supply and shelves | Buy early |
| Movement Speed | Faster travel to distant shelves and search areas | Buy early |
| Matching-Duck Highlights | Highlights ducks matching the category you are working on | High priority |
| Shelf Reveals | Shows the correct shelf when you know the theme but not the position | High priority |
| Nearby Duck Collection | Gathers ducks around you without individual pickups | Mid to late game |
Start with carry capacity and movement speed for broad efficiency, then add matching highlights and shelf reveals once categories multiply. Nearby collection pays off most when dense unsorted groups remain in the cleanup phase.
Duck Locations FAQ
Q: Where do ducks spawn in Sort Them Ducks?
Ducks start in the unsorted supply scattered around the store rather than on shelves. You collect them from those piles, identify each costume's category, and carry them to the matching themed shelf to earn money.
Q: How do I know which shelf a duck belongs on?
Read the strongest visual clue, such as a helmet, hat, armor, or prop, and match it to a category shelf. If you recognize the theme but forget the shelf position, the shelf-reveal ability points you to the right spot immediately.
Q: Why is one duck missing from my category?
Usually the duck was overlooked in a corner, placed on a high surface, or passed quickly during normal progression. Focus only on that category, recheck shelves and elevated areas, and approach hard-to-reach spots from different angles.
Q: Do secret eggs count as duck locations?
No. Secret eggs are exploration collectibles hidden in the environment, separate from the shelf-sorting loop. Track them with their own checklist and compare progress against the achievement list for hidden objectives.
If a duck appears genuinely stuck or unreachable after reloading, compare notes with other players in the Steam community discussions and check the official update page for patches. Community guides also track location-specific solutions as they are discovered.