- waterfowl
-
1. a water bird, esp. a swimming bird.2. such birds taken collectively, esp. the swans, geese, and ducks.[1250-1300; ME; c. G Wasservogel; see WATER, FOWL]
* * *
Any member of the family Anatidae, web-footed birds with a broad bill containing fine plates, or lamellae; usually stocky and often long-necked, including ducks, geese (see goose), and swans.Waterfowl feed by dabbling, diving, or grazing. Most species are social and have an array of formal displays and group cohesion signals. Almost all breed in water. The female usually selects the nest site, builds the nest from any vegetation within reach, and incubates the 3–12 eggs. Shortly after hatching, the young imprint on their mother (see imprinting). Many species are migratory.* * *
▪ birdin the United States, all varieties of ducks, geese, and swans; the term is sometimes expanded to include some unrelated aquatic birds such as coots, grebes (see photograph—>), and loons. In Britain the term refers only to domesticated swans, geese, and ducks kept for ornamental purposes, wildfowl being the term used for wild birds of this group, especially in the context of shooting for sport. See also duck; goose; swan.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
