The
Anatidae are the biological
family of birds that includes
ducks,
geese and
swans. The family has a
cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents. These are
birds that are adapted for
swimming, floating on the water surface, and in some cases diving in at least shallow water. The family contains around 146 species in 40
genera. (The
magpie goose is no longer considered to be part of the Anatidae, but is placed in its own family Anseranatidae.)