Ducks and Geese
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 18 species which occur in Malawi.
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
- White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
- White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus
- Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
- Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
- Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
- African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
- African Black Duck Anas sparsa
- Cape Teal Anas capensis (A)
- Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
- Northern Pintail Anas acuta (A)
- Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha
- Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
- Garganey Anas querquedula
- Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata (A)
- Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma
- Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (A)
- Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa (A)
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Malawi
Famous quotes containing the words ducks and/or geese:
“The only ones who are really grateful for the war are the wild ducks, such a lot of them in the marshes of the Rhone and so peaceful ... because all the shot-guns have been taken away completely taken away and nobody can shoot with them nobody at all and the wild ducks are very content. They act as of they had never been shot at, never, it is so easy to form old habits again, so very easy.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)
“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)