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 adapted for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. In South Carolina, 40 definitive species have been recorded and 2 of questionable origin have also been reported.
- Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
- Fulvous Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
- Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
- Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens
- Ross's Goose, Chen rossii
- Brant, Branta bernicla
- Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis (P2)
- Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii
- Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
- Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
- Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator (P2)
- Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus
- Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
- Gadwall, Anas strepera
- Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penelope
- American Wigeon, Anas americana
- American Black Duck, Anas rubripes
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- Mottled Duck, Anas fulvigula
- Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors
- Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera
- Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
- Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
- Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca
- Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
- Redhead, Aythya americana
- Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris
- Greater Scaup, Aythya marila
- Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis
- King Eider, Somateria spectabilis
- Common Eider, Somateria mollissima
- Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
- Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
- White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca
- Black Scoter, Melanitta americana
- Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis
- Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
- Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
- Common Merganser, Mergus merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
- Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of South Carolina
Famous quotes containing the word swans:
“O death, come close mine eyes;
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.”
—Orlando Gibbons (15831625)