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Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Links: Swans, G eese and D ucks

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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