Waterfowl 158885 219618109 2008-06-16T02:46:43Z 60.53.253.254 leaded directly to animal page {| align=right |[[Image:falcated.duck.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Gloucestershire, England]] |- |[[Image:Manyducks.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Ducks at [[Narrabeen Lake]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]]] |} '''Waterfowl''' are certain wildfowl of the order [[Anseriformes]], especially members of the family [[Anatidae]], which includes [[duck]]s, [[goose|geese]], and [[swan]]s. They are strong swimmers with medium to large bodies. They have historically been an important food source, and continue to be hunted as game, or raised as [[poultry]] for meat and eggs. The [[domestic duck]] is sometimes kept as a pet. Some definitions of the term 'waterfowl' include the saltwater [[shorebird]]s or waders{{Fact|date=October 2007}}, [[gull]]s, [[pelican]]s, and [[heron]]s, as well as [[seabird]]s such as the [[albatross]], and even the [[penguin]]{{Fact|date=October 2007}}, but generally '[[fowl]]' refers to birds used by humans.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} ==Waterfowl families== The following are groups of birds traditionally classed as waterfowl {{Fact|date=October 2007}}; all but the rails are in the [[Anseriformes]] order. *[[Anatidae]]: [[ducks]], [[geese]] and [[swan]]s, approximately 147 species *Anseranatidae: the [[Magpie Goose]] *[[Rallidae]]: water-adapted members, principally the coots and [[moorhen]]s ==See also== *UK **[[Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust]] *USA **[[Ducks Unlimited]] ==References== * Madge and Burn, ''Wildfowl'' ISBN 0-7470-2201-1 * Taylor and van Perlo, ''Rails'' SBN 90-74345-20-4 ==External links== *[http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/ding/ Editorial cartoons] by conservationist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling. [[Category:Anatoidea|*]] {{Anseriformes-stub}} [[de:Wasservogel]] [[eo:Akvobirdoj]] [[fr:Sauvagine]] [[hr:Ptice vodarice]] [[ja:水鳥]] [[ru:Водоплавающие птицы]] [[uk:Водоплавні птахи]]