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Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae  Links: Swans, Geese and Ducks

The swans, ducks and geese are medium to large birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet and bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent. In many ducks the male is colourful while the female is dull brown. The diet consists of a variety of animals and plants. There are about 160 species worldwide, 53 found in Britain.

Bird

Latin

Lists

Links

Notes

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

A & C

Mute Swan

RSPB

BBC

 

Tundra Swan
Bewicks Swan

Cygnus columbianus

A

Tundra Swan

 

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus

A

Whooper Swan

RSPB

 

Bean Goose

Anser fabalis

A

Bean Goose

RSPB

 

Pink Footed Goose 

Anser brachyrhynchus

A

Pink-footed Goose

RSPB

 

White Fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

A

White-fronted Goose

RSPB

 

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus

A

Lesser White-fronted Goose

rare

Greylag Goose 

Anser anser

A & C

Greylag Goose

RSPB

 

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

A

Snow Goose

most records are presumed escapes from captivity

Canada Goose 

Branta canadensis

A & C

Canada Goose

RSPB

BBC

 

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

A

 Barnacle Goose

RSPB

 

Brent Goose 

Branta bernicla

A

Brent Goose

RSPB

 

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis

A

Red-breasted Goose

rare

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

C

Egyptian Goose

RSPB

 

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

B & C

Ruddy Shelduck

many records are presumed escapes from captivity

Shelduck (Common)

Tadorna tadorna

A

Common Shelduck

RSPB

 

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata

C

Mandarin Duck

RSPB

 

Wigeon

Anas penelope

 A

Wigeon

RSPB

 

American Wigeon

Anas americana

A

American Wigeon

rare

Gadwall

Anas strepera

A & C

Gadwall

RSPB

 

Teal (Common)

Anas crecca

A

Common Teal
RSPB

 

Green-winged Teal

Anas carolinensis

A

Green-winged Teal

 

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

A & C

Mallard

RSPB

BBC

 

American Black Duck

Anas rubripes

A  

American Black Duck

 rare

Pintail (Northern)

Anas acuta

A

Northern Pintail

RSPB

 

Garganey

Anas querquedula

A

Garganey

RSPB

 

Blue-winged Teal

Anas discors

A

Blue-winged Teal

rare

Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata

A

Northern Shoveler
RSPB

 

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina

A & C

Red-crested Pochard

RSPB

 

Pochard (Common)

Aythya ferina

A

Common Pochard

RSPB

 

Redhead

Aythya americana

A

Redhead

rare

Canvasback

Aythya valisineria

A

Canvasback

rare

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

A

Ring-necked Duck

 

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya nyroca

A

Ferruginous Duck

rare many records are presumed escapes from captivity

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

A

Tufted Duck

RSPB

 

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

A

Greater Scaup

RSPB

 

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

A

Lesser Scaup

rare

Eider (Common)

Somateria mollissima

A

Common Eider

RSPB

 

King Eider

Somateria spectabilis

A

King Eider

rare

Steller's Eider

Polysticta stelleri

A

Steller's Eider

rare

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

A

Harlequin Duck

rare

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

A

Long-tailed Duck

RSPB

 

Scoter (Common )

Melanitta nigra

A

Common Scoter

RSPB

 

Black Scoter

Melanitta americana

A

Black Scoter

rare

Surf Scoter

Melanitta perspicillata

A

Surf Scoter

 

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca

A

Velvet Scoter

RSPB

 

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

A

Bufflehead

rare most records are presumed escapes from captivity

Barrow's Goldeneye

Bucephala islandica

A

Barrow's Goldeneye

rare most records are presumed escapes from captivity

Goldeneye (Common)

Bucephala clangula

A

Common Goldeneye

RSPB

 

Smew

Mergellus albellus

A

Smew

RSPB

 

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

A

Red-breasted Merganser

RSPB

 

Goosander

Mergus merganser

A

Goosander

RSPB

 

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

C

Ruddy Duck

RSPB

introduced species currently subject to an eradication programme

 


By: Keith Park Section: Wildlife Key:
Page Ref: dgs Topic: Birds  Last Updated: 03/2010
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