Family Anatidae

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

44 species from the family Anatidae.

Typical settings for this family#

Shutter (still)1/640 s
Shutter (action)1/2000–1/3200 s
Aperturef/6.3–f/8
Size30–160 cm

44 species#

Mallard MallardAnas platyrhynchos Canada Goose Canada GooseBranta canadensis Wood DuckAix sponsa Bufflehead BuffleheadBucephala albeola Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata Common Merganser Common MerganserMergus merganser American Wigeon American WigeonMareca americana Hooded Merganser Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris Gadwall GadwallMareca strepera Blue-winged TealSpatula discors Green-winged Teal Green-winged TealAnas crecca Muscovy Duck Muscovy DuckCairina moschata Common Goldeneye Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator Lesser Scaup Lesser ScaupAythya affinis Northern Pintail Northern PintailAnas acuta Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator Mute Swan Mute SwanCygnus olor Snow Goose Snow GooseAnser caerulescens Cinnamon Teal Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera Surf Scoter Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata RedheadAythya americana American Black DuckAnas rubripes Greater ScaupAythya marila Egyptian Goose Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca CanvasbackAythya valisineria Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis Greater White-fronted Goose Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons Common Eider Common EiderSomateria mollissima Brant BrantBranta bernicla Harlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicus Tundra Swan Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus Cackling Goose Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii Mexican DuckAnas diazi Barrow's GoldeneyeBucephala islandica White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi Swan GooseAnser cygnoides Mottled Duck Mottled DuckAnas fulvigula Black Scoter Black ScoterMelanitta americana Greylag Goose Greylag GooseAnser anser Ross's Goose Ross's GooseAnser rossii

Field-craft#

  • Winter is peak season for colourful drakes.
  • Morning side-light reveals iridescent head colours.
  • Get low to the water for an eye-level perspective; expose for bright plumage to avoid clipped whites.

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources