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Ducks, Geese, Swans

Anatidae, the family of water birds that includes ducks, geese, and swans, is found globally except for Antarctica and comprises about 174 species in 43 genera. These birds are adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, most having webbed feet, and are equipped for swimming, floating, and sometimes diving. They range greatly in size, from the tiny cotton pygmy goose to the large trumpeter swan, have strong wing muscles for flight, and mostly possess flattened, serrated bills for filter feeding, although some are piscivorous like the mergansers. Anatids often showcase differences between males and females in coloration, and they are vocal with a range of sounds. While they are largely herbivorous, feeding on water plants, their diet can diversify to include fish, molluscs, or aquatic arthropods. These birds are seasonal, monogamous breeders, with some species forming lifelong pairs. They lay simple nests lined with down, and the precocial young are self-sufficient immediately after hatching. Certain species have been domesticated for their feathers, meat, and other uses, yet at least five species have gone extinct since 1600 due to human impacts, with others currently threatened. Duck species have also been important cultural icons and economic assets for humans. The classification of Anatidae is complex, with relationships between groups not completely resolved and subject to change as new genetic studies provide further insights. Fossil records indicate that Anatidae are an ancient group with a lineage that stretches back to the time of dinosaurs.

Regions

A photo of a American Wigeon (Mareca americana) , male

American Wigeon

Mareca americana
A photo of a Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicus
A photo of a Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis
A photo of a Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Bewick's Swan

Cygnus columbianus
A photo of a Black Duck (Anas rubripes) , male

Black Duck

Anas rubripes
A photo of a Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) , male

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors
A photo of a Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)

Brent Goose

Branta bernicla
A photo of a Cape Shoveler (Spatula smithii) , male

Cape Shoveler

Spatula smithii
A photo of a Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

Cape Teal

Anas capensis
A photo of a Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) , male

Cinnamon Teal

Spatula cyanoptera
A photo of a Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) , male

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigra
A photo of a Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca
A photo of a Eider (Somateria mollissima) , male

Eider

Somateria mollissima
A photo of a Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) , male

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya nyroca
A photo of a Fulvous Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor
A photo of a Gadwall (Mareca strepera) , male

Gadwall

Mareca strepera
A photo of a Garganey (Spatula querquedula) , male

Garganey

Spatula querquedula
A photo of a Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) , male

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula
A photo of a Goosander (Mergus merganser) , male

Goosander

Mergus merganser
A photo of a Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

Greylag Goose

Anser anser
A photo of a Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) , male

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis
A photo of a Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus
A photo of a Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) , male

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis
A photo of a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) , male

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos
A photo of a Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) , male

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata
A photo of a Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris)

Marbled Duck

Marmaronetta angustirostris
A photo of a Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor
A photo of a Pintail (Anas acuta) , male

Pintail

Anas acuta
A photo of a Pochard (Aythya ferina) , male

Pochard

Aythya ferina
A photo of a Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis)

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis
A photo of a Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) , male

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator
A photo of a Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) , male

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina
A photo of a Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) , male

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris
A photo of a Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) , male

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis
A photo of a Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) , male

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea
A photo of a Scaup (Aythya marila) , male

Scaup

Aythya marila
A photo of a Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) , male

Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna
A photo of a Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) , male

Shoveler

Spatula clypeata
A photo of a Smew (Mergellus albellus) , male

Smew

Mergellus albellus
A photo of a Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens
A photo of a Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis)

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis
A photo of a Taiga Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)

Taiga Bean Goose

Anser fabalis
A photo of a Teal (Anas crecca) , male

Teal

Anas crecca
A photo of a Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) , male

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula
A photo of a Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris)

Tundra Bean Goose

Anser serrirostris
A photo of a Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) , male

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca
A photo of a White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons
A photo of a White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) , male

White-headed Duck

Oxyura leucocephala
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