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Anseriformes | Waterfowl of the world

Anseriformes is the scientific name for the order of waterfowl, also known as wildfowl. This order of aquatic birds includes all of the world's ducks, geese, swans and screamers. 

 

The order of Anseriformes includes 178 species* in 53 genera, divided over three families:

  • Anhimidae, the screamers (3 species);
  • Anseranatidae, the magpie goose (1 species);
  • Anatidae, all ducks, geese and swans (174 species). 

 

Anatidae is likely sister to Anseranatidae, which in turn is sister to Anhimidae (Hackett et al. 2008). The Dendrocygna whistling-ducks are either embedded within Anatidae (Eo et al. 2009) or sister to it (Donne-Goussé et al. 2002, Gonzalez et al. 2009). The super-tree analysis by Eo et al. (2009) served to reinforce how elusive consensus is regarding relationships within the Anatidae. The arrangement of genera here follows that used by Del Hoyo and Collar (2014), but it must remain clear that many of these groups are likely paraphyletic and their boundaries in need of further definition - HBW**

Above: a variety of dabbling ducks (Anas sp.) in aviculture.

Waterfowl (Anseriformes)

Screamers (Anhimides)

Screamers (Anhimidae)

  1. Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta
  2. Northern screamer, Chauna chavaria
  3. Crested screamer, Chauna torquata

 

Ducks, geese and swans (Anserides)

Magpie goose (Anseranatidae)

  1. Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata

 

Whistling ducks or Tree ducks (Dendrocygnidae)

  1. White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata
  2. Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
  3. Spotted whistling duck, Dendrocygna guttata
  4. West-Indian whistling duck, Dendrocygna arborea
  5. Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
  6. Plumed (Eyton's) whistling duck, Dendrocygna eytoni
  7. Wandering whistling duck, Dendrocygna arcuata
  8. Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica

  9. White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus

 

Above: Spotted whistling duck, Dendrogygna guttata, in aviculture.

Stiff-tailed ducks and relatives (Oxyurinae)

  1. Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
  2. Andean ruddy duck, Oxyura ferruginea
  3. Lake duck (Argentine ruddy duck), Oxyura vittata
  4. Australian blue-billed duck, Oxyura australis
  5. Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa
  6. White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
  7. Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica 
  8. Musk duck, Biziura lobata
  9. Black-headed duck, Heteronetta atricapilla
  10. Freckled duck, Stictonetta naevosa

 

Above: Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa, in aviculture.

Geese and swans (Anserinae)

  1. Swan goose, Anser cygnoides
  2. Greylag goose, Anser anser
  3. Bean goose, Anser fabalis
  4. Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
  5. Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
  6. Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
  7. Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus
  8. Emperor goose, Chen canagica
  9. Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
  10. Ross' goose, Chen rossii
  11. Canada goose, Branta canadensis
  12. Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii
  13. Hawaiian goose (Nene), Branta sandvicensis
  14. Brant goose (Brent goose), Branta bernicla
  15. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
  16. Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis
  17. Cape Barren (Cereopsis) goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae
  18. Coscoroba swan, Coscoroba coscoroba
  19. Black-necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus
  20. Black swan, Cygnus atratus
  21. Mute swan, Cygnus olor
  22. Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator
  23. Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
  24. Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus

 

Above: Pacific brent geese, Branta bernicla nigricans, in aviculture.

Spur-winged goose (Plectropterinae)

  1. Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis

 

Shelducks, sheldgeese and relatives (Tadorninae)

  1. African Comb duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
  2. South American Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola
  3. Blue-winged goose, Cyanochen cyanopterus
  4. Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
  5. Orinoco goose, Neochen jubatus
  6. Andean goose, Chloephaga melanoptera
  7. Magellan (Upland) goose, Chloephaga picta
  8. Kelp goose, Chloephaga hybrida
  9. Ashy-headed goose, Chloephaga poliocephala
  10. Ruddy-headed goose, Chloephaga rubidiceps
  11. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
  12. Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah
  13. Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
  14. Cape shelduck, Tadorna cana
  15. Paradise shelduck, Tadorna variegata
  16. Australian shelduck, Tadorna tadornoides

  17. Pink-eared duck, Malacorhynchus membranaceus

  18. Torrent duck, Merganetta armata
  19. New-Zealand blue duck, Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos 
  20. Flying steamer duck, Tachyeres patachonicus
  21. Falkland steamer duck, Tachyeres brachypterus
  22. Magellanic steamer duck, Tachyeres pteneres
  23. White-headed steamer duck, Tachyeres leucocephalus

 

Above: Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah, in aviculture.

Ducks (Anatinae)

  1. White-winged wood duck, Asarcornis scutulata
  2. Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata

  3. Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubi

  4. Maned goose (Australian wood duck), Chenonetta jubata 
  5. North American wood duck, Aix sponsa
  6. Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
  7. African pygmy goose, Nettapus auritus
  8. Cotton pygmy goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
  9. Green pygmy goose, Nettapus pulchellus
  10. Brazilian duck, Amazonetta brasiliensis 
  11. Salvadori's duck, Salvadorina waigiuensis 
  12. Ringed teal, Callonetta leucophrys 
  13. Crested duck, Lophonetta specularoides 
  14. Bronze-winged duck (Spectacled duck), Speculanas specularis 
  15. Gadwall, Mareca strepera (Anas strepera) 
  16. Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (Anas falcata) 
  17. Chiloé wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix (Anas sibilatrix) 
  18. European wigeon, Mareca penelope (Anas penelope) 
  19. American wigeon, Mareca americana (Anas americana) 
  20. Mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos 
  21. American black duck, Anas rubripes 
  22. Mottled (Florida) duck, Anas fulvigula 
  23. Hawaiian duck (Koloa), Anas wyvilliana 
  24. Laysan teal (Laysan duck), Anas laysanensis
  25. Philippine duck, Anas luzonica 
  26. Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha 
  27. Chinese spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha
  28. Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa 
  29. Meller's duck, Anas melleri 
  30. Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata 
  31. African Black duck, Anas sparsa 
  32. Garganey, Spatula querquedula (Anas querquedula) 
  33. Puna teal, Spatula puna (Anas puna) 
  34. Versicolor (Silver) teal, Spatula versicolor (Anas versicolor)
  35. Hottentot teal, Spatula hottentota (Anas hottentota)
  36. Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (Anas discors) 
  37. Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (Anas cyanoptera)
  38. Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (Anas clypeata) 
  39. Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii (Anas smithii) 
  40. Australian shoveler, Spatula rhynchotis (Anas rhynchotis) 
  41. Red shoveler, Spatula platalea (Anas platalea) 
  42. Madagascar teal (Bernier's teal), Anas bernieri
  43. Cape teal, Anas capensis 
  44. Andaman teal, Anas albogularis
  45. East Indian grey teal (Sunda teal), Anas gibberifrons
  46. Australian grey teal, Anas gracilis
  47. Chestnut teal, Anas castanea
  48. New Zealand brown teal, Anas chlorotis
  49. Auckland Island flightless teal, Anas aucklandica 
  50. Campbell Island flighless teal, Anas nesiotis 
  51. Northern pintail, Anas acuta 
  52. Eaton's pintail, Anas eatoni 
  53. Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica 
  54. Bahama (White-cheeked) pintail, Anas bahamensis 
  55. Red-billed Pintail, Anas erythrorhyncha 
  56. Yellow-billed teal (Speckled teal), Anas flavirostris 
  57. Andean teal, Anas andina
  58. Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (Anas formosa)
  59. Common teal, Anas crecca
  60. Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris 
  61. Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina 
  62. Rosy-billed pochard, Netta peposaca 
  63. Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma 
  64. Canvasback, Aythya valisineria 
  65. Common pochard, Aythya ferina 
  66. Redhead, Aythya americana 
  67. Australian White-eye duck, Aythya australis
  68. Madagascar pochard, Aythya innotata
  69. Ferruginous pochard, Aythya nyroca
  70. Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri
  71. New Zealand scaup, Aythya novaeseelandiae
  72. Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris 
  73. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula 
  74. Greater scaup, Aythya marila 
  75. Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis 
  76. Common eider, Somateria mollissima
  77. Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri
  78. King eider, Somateria spectabilis
  79. Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri
  80. Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus 
  81. Common (black) scoter, Melanitta nigra 
  82. American (black) scoter, Melanitta americana
  83. Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata 
  84. Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca 
  85. White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi
  86. Siberian scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri 
  87. Long-tailed duck (Oldsquaw), Clangula hyemalis 
  88. Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola 
  89. Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula 
  90. Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica 
  91. Smew, Mergellus albellus 
  92. Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
  93. Brazilian merganser, Mergus octosetaceus
  94. Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
  95. Scaly-sided (Chinese) merganser, Mergus squamatus

  96. Common merganser (Goosander), Mergus merganser

 

Above: Common teal, Anas crecca, in aviculture.

* The 178 species include several species that have extinct since 1500, such as pink-headed duck, Labrador duck and Auckland merganser.  

** Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International have published the HBW-BirdLife Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World in 2014. The new Checklist is based on the application of criteria for recognising species limits described by Tobias et al. (2010). Full details of the specific scores and the basis of these for each new taxonomic revision are provided in the Checklist. This Checklist also forms the taxonomic basis of BirdLife’s assessments of the status of the world’s birds for the IUCN Red List.

Above: Australian white-eyed pochard, Aythya australis, in aviculture.