C++ diamond problem - How to call base method only once

Most likely this is a XY problem. But ... just don't call it twice.

#include <iostream>

class Creature
{
public:
    virtual void identify()
    {
        std::cout << "I'm a creature" << std::endl;
    }
};

class Swimmer : public virtual Creature
{
public:
    virtual void identify() override
    {
        Creature::identify();
        tell_ability();
        std::cout << "I'm a swimmer\n";
    }

    virtual void tell_ability()
    {
        std::cout << "I can swim\n";
    }
};

class Flier : public virtual Creature
{
public:
    virtual void identify() override
    {
        Creature::identify();
        tell_ability();
        std::cout << "I'm a flier\n";
    }

    virtual void tell_ability()
    {
        std::cout << "I can fly\n";
    }
};

class Duck : public Flier, public Swimmer
{
public:
    virtual void tell_ability() override
    {
        Flier::tell_ability();
        Swimmer::tell_ability();
    }

    virtual void identify() override
    {
        Creature::identify();
        tell_ability();
        std::cout << "I'm a duck\n";
    }
};

int main()
{
    Creature c;
    c.identify();
    std::cout << "------------------\n";

    Swimmer s;
    s.identify();
    std::cout << "------------------\n";

    Flier f;
    f.identify();
    std::cout << "------------------\n";

    Duck d;
    d.identify();
    std::cout << "------------------\n";
}

Output:

I'm a creature
------------------
I'm a creature
I can swim
I'm a swimmer
------------------
I'm a creature
I can fly
I'm a flier
------------------
I'm a creature
I can fly
I can swim
I'm a duck
------------------

We can let the base class keep track of the attributes:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>

using namespace std::string_literals;

class Creature
{
public:
    std::string const attribute{"I'm a creature"s};
    std::vector<std::string> attributes{attribute};
    virtual void print()
    {
        for (auto& i : attributes)
            std::cout << i << std::endl;
    }
};

class Swimmer : public virtual Creature
{
public:
    Swimmer() { attributes.push_back(attribute); }
    std::string const attribute{"I can swim"s};
};

class Flier : public virtual Creature
{
public:
    Flier() { attributes.push_back(attribute); }
    std::string const attribute{"I can fly"s};
};

class Duck : public Flier, public Swimmer
{
public:
    Duck() { attributes.push_back(attribute); }
    std::string const attribute{"I'm a duck"s};
};

int main()
{
    Duck d;
    d.print();
}

---

Likewise, if it is not just printing we're after, but rather the function calls, then we could let the base class keep track of the functions:

#include <iostream>
#include <functional>
#include <vector>

class Creature
{
public:
    std::vector<std::function<void()>> print_functions{[this] {Creature::print_this(); }};
    virtual void print_this()
    {
        std::cout << "I'm a creature" << std::endl;
    }
    void print()
    {
        for (auto& f : print_functions)
            f();
    }
};

class Swimmer : public virtual Creature
{
public:
    Swimmer() { print_functions.push_back([this] {Swimmer::print_this(); }); }
    void print_this()
    {
        std::cout << "I can swim" << std::endl;
    }
};

class Flier : public virtual Creature
{
public:
    Flier() { print_functions.push_back([this] {Flier::print_this(); }); }
    void print_this()
    {
        std::cout << "I can fly" << std::endl;
    }
};

class Duck : public Flier, public Swimmer
{
public:
    Duck() { print_functions.push_back([this] {Duck::print_this(); }); }
    void print_this()
    {
        std::cout << "I'm a duck" << std::endl;
    }
};

int main()
{
    Duck d;
    d.print();
}