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 20 species which occur in Zimbabwe.
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
- White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
- White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus
- Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
- South African Shelduck Tadorna cana
- Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
- Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
- African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
- African Black Duck Anas sparsa
- Cape Teal Anas capensis
- Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
- Northern Pintail Anas acuta (A)
- Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha
- Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
- Garganey Anas querquedula (A)
- Cape Shoveler Anas smithii
- Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata (A)
- Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma
- Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
- Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Zimbabwe
Famous quotes containing the words geese and/or swans:
“As it grew darker, I was startled by the honking of geese flying low over the woods, like weary travellers getting in late from Southern lakes, and indulging at last in unrestrained complaint and mutual consolation. Standing at my door, I could hear the rush of their wings; when, driving toward my house, they suddenly spied my light, and with hushed clamor wheeled and settled in the pond. So I came in, and shut the door, and passed my first spring night in the woods.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I have seen old ships sail like swans asleep”
—James Elroy Flecker (1884–1919)