Waterfowl facts for kids

Waterfowl are special kinds of birds that spend most of their lives in or near water. When people say "waterfowl," they usually mean birds from the Anatidae family. This family includes familiar birds like ducks, geese, and swans.

Sometimes, the word "waterfowl" can also include other birds that live near water. These might be birds like coots, grebes, moorhens, shorebirds, and seabirds. A very similar term is "water bird." This term is often used to describe birds that live in water, but it's different from "waders," which are birds that walk in shallow water.

What Are Waterfowl?

Waterfowl are birds perfectly built for life in wet places. They have special features that help them swim, dive, and find food in water. Many waterfowl have webbed feet, which are like paddles, helping them move easily through the water. Their feathers are often waterproof, thanks to a special oil they spread on them. This keeps them dry and warm, even when they are swimming in cold water.

Types of Waterfowl

The main group of birds called waterfowl belongs to the family known as Anatidae. This family is very diverse and includes many different kinds of ducks, geese, and swans.

Ducks

Ducks are generally smaller than geese and swans. They are found all over the world, living in freshwater lakes, rivers, and even saltwater oceans. There are many different types of ducks, like dabbling ducks and diving ducks. Dabbling ducks feed by tipping their bodies upside down to reach plants and insects near the surface. Diving ducks, on the other hand, dive completely underwater to catch fish or find food at the bottom.

Geese

Geese are larger than ducks and usually have longer necks. They are known for their strong V-shaped flight formations when they migrate long distances. Geese often eat grass and other plants, both in and out of the water. Many types of geese live in colder parts of the world and fly south for the winter.

Swans

Swans are the largest birds in the waterfowl family. They are famous for their long, graceful necks and beautiful white feathers, though some species can be black. Swans are often seen gliding elegantly on ponds and lakes. They mostly eat aquatic plants, which they can reach with their long necks. Swans are also known for forming strong pair bonds and often mate for life.

Other Water Birds

While ducks, geese, and swans are the most common waterfowl, many other birds also live near water. These include:

• Coots and Moorhens: These birds are part of the rail family. They have strong legs and feet, and some have lobed toes that help them swim. They often live in marshes and ponds.
• Grebes: Grebes are excellent divers. They have feet placed far back on their bodies, which helps them swim underwater to catch fish.
• Shorebirds: These birds, like sandpipers and plovers, usually have long legs and beaks. They walk along the edges of water, looking for small creatures in the mud or sand.
• Seabirds: Birds like gulls and albatrosses spend most of their lives over the ocean. They are adapted to saltwater environments and often feed on fish.

Images for kids

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  Crested screamer (Chauna torquata)

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  Magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata), sole surviving member of a Mesozoic lineage

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  Cast of Dromornis stirtoni, a mihirung, from Australia.

See also

In Spanish: Anseriformes para niños