BIRDS of THE WORLD - An Online Bird Book
WATERFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae
The order
Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish.
Anseriformes has 3 familes, but almost all of the species belong to
Anatidae.
Family
Anatidae:
dabbling ducks,
teals,
diving ducks,
sea duck,
shelducks,
geese.
Family
Anatidae:
stiff-tailed ducks,
swans,
whistling ducks,
Family
Anhimidae:
screamers
Family
Anseranatidae:
magpie goose
Other species resemble the waterfowl of Anseriformes.
Order Gaviiformes, Family
Gaviidae:
loons
Order Gruiformes, Family
Rallidae:
coots, moorhens,
crakes, rails
Order Podicipediformes, Family
Podicipedidae:
grebes
Sheldgeese and Shelducks
Tadorninae is the shelduck-sheldgoose subfamily of family Anatidae. This group is largely tropical or Southern Hemisphere in distribution, with only two species, the Common Shelduck and the Ruddy Shelduck breeding in northern temperate regions. The Tadorninae are somewhat intermediate between geese and dabbling ducks.
Shelgeese
Genus Alopochen - 1 species
Goose,_Egyptian Alopochen aegyptiacus Found:North America (escaped captive), Europe (introduced), Africa
Image by:
1, 2) Dick Daniels - Tanzania
3, 6) Dick - Kenya
4, 5) Dick - Johaneesburg 7)
Sandy Cole -
St.Lucia,South Africa
![](../Daniels/Tanzania/Photos Small/goose, egyptian 12-03 a1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Tanzania/Photos Small/goose, egyptian 12-05.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Goose, Egyptian Joburg2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Goose, Egyptian Joburg3.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Kenya/KenyaSM/Goose,_Egyptian7a.jpg)
Genus Chloephaga
This genus is found in South America
Goose,_Andean Chloephaga melanoptera Found:South America
Image by: 1)
Francis C. Franklin 2
) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 3)
BS_Thurner_Hof 4)
Paul_Balfe
![](../IMAGE10SM/Goose,_Andean_Francis_Franklin.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Andean 2 March 2010.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Goose,_Andean_BS_Thurner_Hof.jpg)
Goose,_Ashy-headed Chloephaga poliocephala Found: South America
Image by: 1)
Nick Athanas - Chile
2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 5)
Sandy -
Sylvan Heights
1) Pair
![](../People/AthanasSM/Goose,_Ash-headed_pair_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose,_Ashy-headed_2014b.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose,_Ashy-headed_2014.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Ashy-headed 1.jpg)
Goose,_Ruddy-headed Chloephaga rubidiceps Found: South America
Image by:
1, 2) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 3)
Factumquintus
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Ruddy-headed8 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Ruddy-headed March 2010.jpg)
Goose,_Kelp Chloephaga hybrida Found: South America
Image by: 1, 3, 5)
Nick Athanas 2)
Charlie Westerinen - Ushuaia Harbor, Argentina 2)
dFaulder - Argentina
1, 2) Pair 3) Female 4, 5) Male
![](../People/AthanasSM/Goose,_Kelp_pair_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Goose,_Kelp_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Goose,_Kelp_female_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../People/FaulderSM/Goose,_Kelp_dFaulder.jpg)
Goose,_Magellan also
Upland Goose Chloephaga picta Found: South
America
Image by: 1, 8)
Nick Athanas 2)
Fabienkhan - Argentina 3)
Rodrigo Schulz - Chile 4)
Frank Vassen 5, 7) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 6)
Chris Pearson -
Falkland
1) Pair and juvenile male 2) Pair 3, 4, 6) Female 6, 7, 8) Male
![](../People/AthanasSM/Goose,_Upland_Nick_Athanas_fm_ml_jv-male_eq.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Goose,_Upland_Fabienkhan.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Goose,_Kelp_RodrigoSchulz.jpg)
![](../People/VassenFrankSM/Goose,_Upland_Frank_Vassen.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose,_Magellan_2016b.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Goose,_Upland_ChrisPearson.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose,_Magellan_2016.jpg)
Genus Neochen - 1 species
Goose,_Orinoco Neochen jubata Found: South America
Image by: 1)
Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 2)
Tom_Friedel (
BirdPhotos.com) 3)
Dick -
Jacksonville Zoo 4)
Sandy Cole -
Sylvan Heights
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Orinoco, south america 1.jpg)
![](../People/FriedelTomSM/Goose,_Orinoco_Tom_Friedel.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Florida/FLsm/Goose,_Orinoco_JZ_2012.jpg)
Shelducks
Genus Tadorana
Shelduck, Australian Tadorna tadornoides Found:
Australia
Image by:
1, 6) Dick Daniels - Australia
2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) Dick -
Sylvan Heights
1 - 4) Female 4 - 8) Male
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/shelduck, australian AU.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Australian female2 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Australian female1 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck,_Australian_2012.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Australian male1h Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/shelduck, australian AU 5.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Australian, male 1.jpg)
Shhelduck, South African also
Cape Shelduck Tadorna cana Found: southern Africa
Image by:
1, 3) Dick -
National Aviary 2)
Dick - South Africa
4, 8) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo 5)
Dick -
Tampa's
Lowry Park Zoo 6)
Sandy - San Diego Zoo 7)
Sergey
Yeliseev -
Moscow Zoo
1 - 6) Female 7, 8) Male
![](../Daniels/NationalAviarySM/Shelduck,_South_African2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Shelduck,_South_African_SwellendamToDeHook1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/NationalAviarySM/Shelduck,_South_African3.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SanDiego/SanDiegoSM/Shelduck, South_African_SDS.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Florida/FLsm/Shelduck, Cape Tampa'sLowryParkZoo.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SanDiego/SanDiegoSM/Shelduck, South_African_Sandy_SDS.jpg)
![](../People/YeliseevSM/Shelduck,_Cape_SergeyYeliseev.jpg)
Shelduck, Common Tadorna tadorna Found: North America (escapees),
Europe, Asia
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 4)
Dick -
Birds
of Eden, South Africa
5, 10)
Cristiano Crolle - Italy; Holland 6)
Dick - Scotland 11) Video by
Avibirds.
More vidoes
1, 2) Pair 3, 4, 5) Female 6 - 9) Male
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Common 2 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck,_Common_pair5.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Common female2 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/BrdsOfEdenSmall/Shelduck, Common2.jpg)
![](../People/CrolleSM/Shelduck,_Common_Crolle.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/shelduck, common 05-30a SCOT.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck,_Common_2012.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Common 1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Common 2a.jpg)
![](../People/CrolleSM/Shelduck,_Common_Crolle2.jpg)
Shelduck, Paradise Tadorna variegata Found: New Zealand
Image by:
1, 7, 8) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 3,
4, 5, 6) Dick - New Zealand 2)
Michal_Klajban
1) Pair 2 - 4) Female 5 - 8) Male
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Paradise 3 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Images5SM/Shelduck, Paradise_Michal_Klajban.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/shelduck, paradise NZ 1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/shelduck, paradise NZ y3.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/shelduck, paradise NZ x1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Paradise 1 Jan2011.jpg)
Shelduck, Radjah also
Raja Shelduck Tadorna radjah Found:
Australia
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 5)
Dick - Featherdale, Australia (captive),
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Radjah 2 Jan 2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Radjah 7.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Radjah 2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/shelduck, radjah Featherdale .jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Radjah 4.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Shelduck, Radjah 3.jpg)
Shelduck, Ruddy Tadorna ferruginea Found: North America (escapees),
Europe, Asia
Image by: 1)
Sergey Pisarevskiy - Mongolia 2)
Jill Mitchell 3)
Andy_Li 4)
Dick Daniels -
Miami Zoo 5)
Arpingstone - England 6)
Heather Daniels - Nepal 7) Video by
Avibirds.
More vidoes
1) Male 2) Female
![](../Images1SM/Shelduck,_Ruddy_SergeyPisarevskiy.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Shelduck,_Ruddy_JillMitchell .jpg)
![](../People/LiAndySM/Shelduck,_Ruddy_Andy_Li_eq.jpg)
![](../Daniels/ZooMiamiSM/Shelduck,_Ruddy_ZM.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Shelduck,_Ruddy_Arpingstone.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/shelduck, ruddy Heather Daniels.jpg)
Genus Aix
The members of genus
Aix have been placed here with in the shelduck subfamily, but they are also close to the dabbling ducks.
Duck, Mandarin Aix galericulata Found: Asia Introduced: North America, Europe
Image by:
1, 2, 6, 7, 8) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 3, 4, 5) Dick - Flamingos Wildlife Refuge 9) Video by
Avibirds.
More vidoes
2, 3, 4) Female 5, 6, 7) Male 8) White morph
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Mandarin 8.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Mandarin 6.jpg)
![](../Daniels/FlamingosWR/PhotosSmall/duck, mandarin 04-16fm2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/FlamingosWR/PhotosSmall/duck, mandarin 04-16fm1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/FlamingosWR/PhotosSmall/duck, mandarin 04-16y.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Mandarin 2a.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Mandarin2c_2012.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Mardarin white March 2010.jpg)
Duck, Wood Aix sponsa Found: North America, Caribbean
Image by: 1, 8)
Alan D. Wilson - Burnaby Lake, British Columbia 2)
Sandy Cole - Cape Fear Acquarium, NC 3)
Dick Daniels -
Jungle Island of
Miami 4)
Dick - Maine
5)
Alan Vernon - California
6, 7) Dick - Cape
Fear Acquarium, NC 9)
Dick -
Sylvan Heights 10)
Roy McBride - Vancouver, BC
1 - 5) Female 6 - 10) Male
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Duck, Wood Alan_D_Wilson_0273a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/duck, wood 10-11 c.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Florida/FLsm/Duck, Wood female FG.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/duck, wood 08-04a Acadia.jpg)
![](../People/VernonAlanSM/Duck,_Wood_female_Alan_Vernon.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/duck, wood 02-17h.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/duck, wood 02-17.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Duck, Wood Alan_D_Wilson_6473a.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Wood Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Images8SM/Duck,_Wood_RoyMcBride.jpg)
Genus Cairina
This genus formerly included the
White-winged Wood Duck, but DNA evidence implies it is only distantly related to muscovy ducks. Muscovy ducks seem to be more related to those in the
Aix genus and are
thus listed here on the shelduck web page.
Duck, Muscovy Cairina moschata Found: North America (feral),
Central and South America
Image by: 1)
Sandy Cole -
Sylvan Heights 2, 3) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 4)
Cristiano Crolle - Esteros del Iberà, Argentina 5)
Jerry Oldenettel - Costa Rica
6, 7) Dick Daniels - Floeida 8)
Dick - California 9)
Jason Pratt 10)Video by
Avibirds.
More vidoes
1 - 5) Natural Muscovy Ducks 6 - 9) Feral Muscovy Ducks
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck,_Muscovy_Sandy.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck, Muscovy 1a.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Duck,_Muscovy_2012.jpg)
![](../People/CrolleSM/Muscovy Duck.jpg)
![](../People/OldenettelSM/Muscovy_JerryOldenettel2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Florida/FLsm/Muscovy_2013.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/duck, muscovy- domestic 01-11 b FL.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/Duck, Muscovy 06-07-2009 CA.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Muscovy_JasonPratt.jpg)
Genus Cyanochen - 1 species
It is unresolved whether or not the Blue-winged Goose is a shelgoose. It might belong to a very distinct and ancient "duck" clade, together with Hartlaub's Duck.
Goose,_Blue-winged Cyanochen cyanoptera Found: Endemic to Ethiopia
Image:
1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights
The only member of the Genus
Cyanochen and is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Blue-winged 7k Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Blue-winged 8a Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Goose, Blue-winged 4.jpg)
Genus Hymenolaimus - 1 species
Duck,_Blue Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos Found: New Zealand near fast moving water.
Image by: 1)
Jon Sullivan 2)
Bernard Spragg 3)
Karora 4) Bernard SpraggZabdiel 5)
Martin
![](../Images7SM/Duck,_Blue_JonSullivan.jpg)
![](../IMAGE10SM/Duck,_Blue_Bernard_Spragg.jpg)
![](../IMAGE10SM/Duck,_Blue_Karora.jpg)
![](../IMAGE10SM/Duck,_Blue_Zabdiel.jpg)
Genus Merganetta - 1 species
Duck, Torrent Merganetta armata Found: South America near fast moving water.
Image by:
1, 3, 5) Aljandro Bayer Ta mayo 2, 7)
Nick Athanas - Ecuador, Argentina 4)
ljndr - Argentina 6)
Brendan_Ryan - Chile
1, 2) Pair 3) Mother with chicks 4) Female 5, 6, 7) Male
![](../People/TamayoSM/Duck,_Torrent_Aljandro_Bayer_Ta_mayo.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Duck,_Torrent_Nick_Athanas3.jpg)
![](../People/TamayoSM/Duck,_Torrent_Aljandro_Bayer_Ta_mayo2.jpg)
![](../Images7SM/Duck,_Torrent_lndrj.jpg)
![](../People/TamayoSM/Duck,_Torrent_Aljandro_Bayer_Ta_mayo3.jpg)
![](../People/RyanBrendan_SM/Duck,_Torrent_Brendan_Ryan.jpg)
Genus Salvadorina - 1 species
Teal, Salvadori's Salvadorina waigiuensis Found; New Guinea near fast moving water.
Image by: 1)
John Gerrard Keulemans 2)
Toxostoma 3)
Pinned
![](../People/KeulemansSM/Teal,_Salvadoris_John_Gerrard_Keulemans.jpg)
![](../ImageALLRIGHTS2/Teal,_Salvadoris_Toxostoma.jpg)