Waterfowl

General Information

Waterfowl are a family of pretty common birds that most people in at least the western world have seen, and are pretty familiar from seeing in pop culture, and local ponds. These are birds that are very comfortable in the water. Some of the members of the waterfowl family are:

1) Screamers
2) Magpie Goose
3) Geese
4) Ducks
5) Swans

Here is a list of all the species under the family of Waterfowl:
Bird Name - Scientific Name of the Bird - Scientific Order Name - Scientific FamilyName

1) Magpie Goose | Anseranas semipalmata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anseranatidae
2) White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata - Order Anseriformes - Family Anatidae
3) Black-bellied Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
4) Spotted Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna guttata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
5) West Indian Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna arborea | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
6) Fulvous Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
7) Plumed Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna eytoni | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
8) Wandering Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna arcuata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
9) Lesser Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna javanica | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
10) White-backed Duck | Thalassornis leuconotus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
11) Cape Barren Goose | Cereopsis novaehollandiae | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
12) Swan Goose | Anser cygnoides | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
13) Taiga Bean Goose | Anser fabalis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
14) Tundra Bean Goose | Anser serrirostris | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
15) Pink-footed Goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
16) Greylag Goose | Anser anser | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
17) Greater White-fronted Goose | Anser albifrons | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
18) Lesser White-fronted Goose | Anser erythropus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
19) Bar-headed Goose | Anser indicus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
20) Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
21) Ross's Goose | Chen rossii | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
22) Emperor Goose | Chen canagica | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
23) Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
24) Cackling Goose | Branta hutchinsii | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
25) Nene | Branta sandvicensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
26) Brant Goose | Branta bernicla | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
27) Barnacle Goose | Branta leucopsis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
28) Red-breasted Goose | Branta ruficollis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
29) Coscoroba Swan | Coscoroba coscoroba | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
30) Black Swan | Cygnus atratus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
31) Black-necked Swan | Cygnus melancoryphus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
32) Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
33) Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
34) Tundra Swan | Cygnus columbianus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
35) Whooper Swan | Cygnus cygnus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
36) Freckled Duck | Stictonetta naevosa | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
37) Blue Duck | Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
38) Flying Steamer Duck | Tachyeres patachonicus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
39) Fuegian Steamer Duck | Tachyeres pteneres | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
40) Falkland Steamer Duck | Tachyeres brachypterus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
41) Chubut Steamer Duck | Tachyeres leucocephalus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
42) Torrent Duck | Merganetta armata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
43) Spur-winged Goose | Plectropterus gambensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
44) Comb Duck | Sarkidiornis sylvicola | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
45) Knob-billed Duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
46) Blue-winged Goose | Cyanochen cyanoptera | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
47) Egyptian Goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
48) Orinoco Goose | Neochen jubata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
49) Andean Goose | Chloephaga melanoptera | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
50) Upland Goose | Chloephaga picta | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
51) Kelp Goose | Chloephaga hybrida | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
52) Ashy-headed Goose | Chloephaga poliocephala | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
53) Ruddy-headed Goose | Chloephaga rubidiceps | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
54) Common Shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
55) Raja Shelduck | Tadorna radjah | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
56) Ruddy Shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
57) South African Shelduck | Tadorna cana | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
58) Australian Shelduck | Tadorna tadornoides | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
59) Paradise Shelduck | Tadorna variegata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
60) Pink-eared Duck | Malacorhynchus membranaceus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
61) Salvadori's Teal | Salvadorina waigiuensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
62) Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
63) White-winged Duck | Asarcornis scutulata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
64) Hartlaub's Duck | Pteronetta hartlaubii | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
65) Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
66) Mandarin Duck | Aix galericulata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
67) Maned Duck | Chenonetta jubata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
68) African Pygmy Goose | Nettapus auritus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
69) Cotton Pygmy Goose | Nettapus coromandelianus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
70) Green Pygmy Goose | Nettapus pulchellus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
71) Brazilian Teal | Amazonetta brasiliensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
72) Ringed Teal | Callonetta leucophrys | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
73) Crested Duck | Lophonetta specularioides | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
74) Bronze-winged Duck | Speculanas specularis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
75) Cape Teal | Anas capensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
76) Gadwall | Anas strepera | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
77) Falcated Duck | Anas falcata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
78) Chiloe Wigeon | Anas sibilatrix | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
79) Eurasian Wigeon | Anas penelope | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
80) American Wigeon | Anas americana | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
81) African Black Duck | Anas sparsa | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
82) American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
83) Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
84) Mottled Duck | Anas fulvigula | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
85) Mexican Duck | Anas diazi | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
86) Hawaiian Duck | Anas wyvilliana | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
87) Laysan Duck | Anas laysanensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
88) Philippine Duck | Anas luzonica | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
89) Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
90) Indian Spot-billed Duck | Anas poecilorhyncha | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
91) Eastern Spot-billed Duck | Anas zonorhyncha | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
92) Yellow-billed Duck | Anas undulata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
93) Meller's Duck | Anas melleri | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
94) Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
95) Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
96) Cape Shoveler | Anas smithii | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
97) Red Shoveler | Anas platalea | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
98) Australasian Shoveler | Anas rhynchotis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
99) Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
100) Bernier's Teal | Anas bernieri | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
101) Sunda Teal | Anas gibberifrons | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
102) Andaman Teal | Anas albogularis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
103) Grey Teal | Anas gracilis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
104) Chestnut Teal | Anas castanea | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
105) Auckland Teal | Anas aucklandica | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
106) Campbell Teal | Anas nesiotis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
107) Brown Teal | Anas chlorotis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
108) White-cheeked Pintail | Anas bahamensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
109) Red-billed Teal | Anas erythrorhyncha | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
110) Yellow-billed Teal | Anas flavirostris | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
111) Andean Teal | Anas andium | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
112) Yellow-billed Pintail | Anas georgica | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
113) Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
114) Eaton's Pintail | Anas eatoni | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
115) Garganey | Anas querquedula | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
116) Baikal Teal | Anas formosa | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
117) Eurasian Teal | Anas crecca | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
118) Green-winged Teal | Anas carolinensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
119) Silver Teal | Anas versicolor | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
120) Puna Teal | Anas puna | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
121) Hottentot Teal | Anas hottentota | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
122) Marbled Duck | Marmaronetta angustirostris | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
123) Red-crested Pochard | Netta rufina | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
124) Rosy-billed Pochard | Netta peposaca | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
125) Southern Pochard | Netta erythrophthalma | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
126) Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
127) Redhead | Aythya americana | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
128) Common Pochard | Aythya ferina | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
129) Hardhead | Aythya australis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
130) Madagascar Pochard | Aythya innotata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
131) Baer's Pochard | Aythya baeri | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
132) Ferruginous Duck | Aythya nyroca | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
133) New Zealand Scaup | Aythya novaeseelandiae | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
134) Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
135) Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
136) Greater Scaup | Aythya marila | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
137) Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
138) Steller's Eider | Polysticta stelleri | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
139) Spectacled Eider | Somateria fischeri | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
140) King Eider | Somateria spectabilis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
141) Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
142) Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
143) Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
144) Velvet Scoter | Melanitta fusca | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
145) White-winged Scoter | Melanitta deglandi | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
146) Common Scoter | Melanitta nigra | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
147) Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
148) Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
149) Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
150) Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
151) Barrow's Goldeneye | Bucephala islandica | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
152) Smew | Mergellus albellus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
153) Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
154) Brazilian Merganser | Mergus octosetaceus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
155) Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
156) Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
157) Scaly-sided Merganser | Mergus squamatus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
158) Black-headed Duck | Heteronetta atricapilla | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
159) Masked Duck | Nomonyx dominicus | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
160) Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
161) Andean Duck | Oxyura ferruginea | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
162) Lake Duck | Oxyura vittata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
163) Blue-billed Duck | Oxyura australis | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
164) Maccoa Duck | Oxyura maccoa | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
165) White-headed Duck | Oxyura leucocephala | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae
166) Musk Duck | Biziura lobata | Order Anseriformes | Family Anatidae

Recognizable Characteristics

These birds are often found in the water, and they are all very well adapted to water and marsh habitats.

Migration Pattern

Waterfowl do migrate. There are many different species of waterfowl, each with a slightly different migration pattern. In North America, there is such a thing as the Atlantic Flyway Council (AFC), which is a coalition of eastern states that make a concentrated effort to preserve the marsh-like habitats these birds need on their migration path.

Beak or Bill

Wings

Flight

Feet

These birds have webbed feet, which is one of their adaptations to their near-water habitats. The webbed feet help them petal when they are swimming.

Colors

Reproduction

Difference in Males and Females

Other Information

Ducks, swans, and geese seem to be in every cartoon, ferry tale, or kids book. For one reason or another, it is always these birds that come up. Whether it is Donald Duck, Daffy Duck, tales of Hans Christian Anderson, or Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, it is always some waterfowl that appears there. Some people speculate that since some writers tend to go to nature, or scenic places to write, and get inspiration, the presence of different species of these birds at the time of the writers' writing, is what gets these birds into the literature.

Unfortunately for these birds, life for them isn't always about stories and tales. They are a very popular hunting target in many states all over the United States and many other countries. They also taste quite delicious and are considered poultry.

Songs and Calls

Diet

Habitat

As their family name suggests, these birds are very comfortable in different environments like marshes, ponds, lakes, etc. They are strong swimmers and are most comfortable being in or right near water.

Waterfowl Photo