WATERFOWL of South America
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]
Diving Ducks
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae
The diving ducks, commonly called pochards or scaups, are a category of duck which feed by diving beneath the surface of the water. They are mainly found in the northern hemisphere. To aid in their swimming under water for food, diving ducks tend to be denser than dabbling ducks and their legs placed further back on their body. They are ungainly walking on ground and their takeoff for flying is labored.
Genus Aythya
Scaup, Lesser Aythya affinis Found: The Americas, Asia
Similar to: Greater Scaup. Greater Scaups tend to have more rounded heads. The Greater Scaup male has a clear white border where it meets the vermiculated back while the Lesser Scaup male has a smudged region. Greater Scaups tend to have larger bills than Lesser Scaups. Lesser Scaup head tends to slope forward compared to Greater Scaup.
_RWD1.jpg){kind=link}
_RWD3.jpg){kind=link}
6) Shawn McCready - Alberta 7) Jeff Whitlock - Texas 8) New Jersey Birds - California 9) Dick - Twin Lakes, North Carolina
1 - 4) Male 5 - 9) Female
Genus Netta
Netta is a genus of diving ducks. Unlike other diving ducks, the Netta species are reluctant to dive, and feed more like dabbling ducks. These are gregarious ducks, mainly found on fresh water. They are strong fliers; their broad, blunt-tipped wings require faster wing-beats than those of many ducks and they take off with some difficulty.
Pochard, Rosy-billed aka Rosybill Netta peposaca Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Sandy Cole - Sylvan Heights 2) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 3) Dick - Sylvan Heights
4) Dick - Birds of Eden, South Africa
Pochard, Southern Netta erythrophthalma Found: Sourh America, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights
1, 2) Female 3) Male
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.