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 17 species which occur in Papua New Guinea.
- Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata
- Spotted Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna guttata
- Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni
- Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
- Black Swan Cygnus atratus
- Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah
- Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus
- Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
- Salvadori's Teal Salvadorina waigiuensis
- Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
- Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons
- Gray Teal Anas gracilis
- Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
- Northern Pintail Anas acuta
- Garganey Anas querquedula
- Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata (A)
- White-eyed Duck Aythya australis
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Papua New Guinea
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 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)