Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order
Anseriformes, especially members of the family
Anatidae, which includes
ducks,
geese, and
swans. Some definitions of the term 'waterfowl' include the saltwater
shorebirds or
waders,
gulls,
pelicans, and
herons, as well as
seabirds such as the
albatross, but '
fowl' especially refers to birds used by humans for game. They have historically been an important food source, and continue to be hunted as game, or raised as
poultry for meat and eggs and are sometimes kept as pets.