WATERFOWL of the world
The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. 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. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
SCREAMERs
Family Anhimidae
The screamers are a small family of birds related to ducks (family Anatidae), but more closely to the Magpie Goose which is the only species in family Anseranatidae. The three Anhimidae species occur only in South America, ranging from Venezuela to northern Argentina. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and territorial disputes[1]; these can break off in the breast of other screamers, and are regularly renewed. Unlike ducks they have a partial moult, and are able to fly throughout the year. They live in open areas and marshes with some grass and feed on water plants. [Wikipedia]
Genus Anhima - 1 species
Screamer, Horned Anhima cornuta Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Diego Miguel_Garces 2) Christoph2007 3) Cláudio Timm - the Amazon, Brazil
Genus Chauna
Screamer, Northern aka Crested Screamer Chauna chavaria Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) George Robert Gray 2) anthrotect
Screamer, Southern aka Crested Screamer Chauna torquata Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4) Dick Daniels - Jacksonville Zoo 3, 5) Cláudio Timm - - Tacuarembó, Uruguay
6) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo
Genus Sarkidiornis - 1 species
Duck, Knob-billed aka Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Found: Asia, Africa, South America
DNA analysis of the Knob-billed duck species suggests that it is a basal member of the Anatidae family. That is, the Knob-billed Duck does not have any close relatives. Sarkidiornis
m. melanotos is found in the Old World and Sarkidiornis m. sylvicola is found in South America
7) Arno Meintjes 8) Ian White - Zambia 9, 10) Lip Kee - India
1 - 6) Sarkidiornis m. sylvicola 1, 2) Male 3 - 6) Female
7 - 10) Sarkidiornis m. melanotos 7, 8) Male 9, 10) Female
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.