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 33 species which occur in Iran.
- Mute Swan Cygnus olor
- Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
- Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
- Bean Goose Anser fabalis
- Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
- Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
- Greylag Goose Anser anser
- Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
- Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
- Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
- Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
- Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
- Falcated Duck Anas falcata
- Gadwall Anas strepera
- Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
- Northern Pintail Anas acuta
- Garganey Anas querquedula
- Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
- Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
- Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
- Common Pochard Aythya ferina
- Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca
- Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
- Greater Scaup Aythya marila
- Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
- Black Scoter Melanitta nigra
- White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
- Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
- Smew Mergellus albellus
- Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
- Common Merganser Mergus merganser
- White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Iran
Famous quotes containing the words geese and/or swans:
“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)
“I know of the sleepy country, where swans fly round
Coupled with golden chains, and sing as they fly.
A king and a queen are wandering there, and the sound
Has made them so happy and hopeless, so deaf and so blind
With wisdom, they wander till all the years have gone by....”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)