About Bird

Waterfowl

By Laura Klappenbach, About.com 

Waterfowl - Anseriformes

Photo © Jjohnson61 / Dreamstime.

Waterfowl (Anseriformes) are a group of birds that include screamers, ducks, geese, and swans. There are about 150 species of waterfowl alive today. Waterfowl are so named for their preference for aquatic habitats. Most species live close to freshwater habitats such as lakes, streams or ponds but some species also inhabit marine environments during the non-breeding season.

Waterfowl are medium to large size birds. Their plumage may include subtle variations of gray, brow, black or white. Some waterfowl (notably the screamers) have ornamental feathers on their head and neck while others have brightly colored patches on their secondary feathers (such as blue, green, or copper). The plumage of young waterfowl is often duller than that of adults.

Waterfowl have webbed feet, an adaptation for their aquatic lifestyle which enables them to swim with great efficiency.

Waterfowl are often prey for a variety of predator species including humans, red foxes, coyotes, raccoons and striped skunks. Occasionally, waterfowl may also fall prey to other birds such as American crows, black-billed magpies and owls.

Habitat:

Waterfowl inhabit aquatic habitats such as lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, swamps and marshes. Waterfowl have an almost worldwide distribution. They inhabit all continents except Antarctica. Some waterfowl are more restricted in range. The Anhimidae, for example, are restricted to South America, while the Anseranatidae inhabit only Australia and New Guinea.

Diet:

Waterfowl are herbivorous birds. They feed on a variety of plant material including leaves, stems, grasses, flowers, stems and seeds. Some species eat insects, molluscs, plankton, fish or crustaceans.

Evolution:

The earliest known waterfowl is Vegavis iaai, a bird that lived during the Late Cretaceous. The closest living relatives to Vegavis iaai are ducks, swans and geese.

Classification:

There are three groups of waterfowl, the Anhimidae (screamers), the Anseranatidae (magpie goose) and the Anatidae (geese, swans and ducks)

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