Waterfowl
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{| align=right
|[[Image:falcated.duck.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Gloucestershire, England]]
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|[[Image:Manyducks.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Ducks at [[Narrabeen Lake]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]]]
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'''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}}
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[[ru:Водоплавающие птицы]]
[[uk:Водоплавні птахи]]