Ducks, Geese and Swans
Order: Anseriformes. Family: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in New Caledonia.
- Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata (A)
- Canada Goose Branta canadensis (A)
- Gray Teal Anas gracilis (A)
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (I)
- Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
- Australian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis (A)
- White-eyed Duck Aythya australis
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of New Caledonia
Famous quotes containing the words geese and/or swans:
“They yelleden as fiendes doon in hell;
The duckes cryden as men would them quell;
The geese for feare flewen over the trees;
Out of the hive came the swarm of bees.”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)
“O death, come close mine eyes;
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.”
—Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)