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 11 species which occur in Sierra Leone.
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
- White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
- Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
- Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
- Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
- Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii
- African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
- Northern Pintail Anas acuta
- Garganey Anas querquedula
- Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca
- Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Sierra Leone
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)
“Let the long contention cease! Geese are swans, and swans are geese. Let them have it how they will! Thou art tired; best be still.”
—Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)