This is the largest family within the order Anseriformes, and consists of over 150 species in 43 different genera. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, being present on all continents except for Antarctica.
Since this is such a diverse family, here are some facts about them:
- They’re generally herbivores
- They’re monogamous breeders
- Some migrate, while others stay in the same area year-round
- Several are domesticated ‘farm/agricultural’ animals
- Many are also hunted for food and recreation
- Since the 1600s, five species have become extinct, and many more are listed as species of concern, endangered, or threatened.
Members of this family will vary in terms of size and shape. They can range in size from the small cotton pygmy goose (found in Southeast Asia and Australia) to the trumpeter swan in North America.
Most of the birds have a broad and enlongated body, while those that are divers have a somewhat more compact body. While htier feet are set back in terms of weight/body distribution, they are fairly decent walkers when compared to grebes or loons.
While it has been mentioned that most adults are herbivores (the mergansers are fishers), the young will eat a alrger ratio of invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, and so forth) to plants, with the ratio flipping as they get older.
There are numerous members of the family that can be spotted somewhere within the US, Canada, and Mexico. Those members are:
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan (aka Whistling Swan)
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Goose
Brant Goose
Barnacle Goose
Greater white-fronted goose
Emperor goose
Snow goose
Ross’s goose
Nene
Mallard
Mottled duck
Northern pintail
American black duck
Gadwall
American wigeon
Eurasian wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Cinnamon teal
Garganey
American green-winged teal
Wood duck
Fulvous whistling duck
Black-bellied whistling duck
Canvasback
Redhead
Tufted duck
Ringed-necked duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Eider
King Eider
Spectacled Eider
White-winged scoter
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Steller’s Eider
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Harlequin duck
Ruddy duck
Long-tailed duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Photography goals for this family include: attempting to get a picture of each member that can be spotted within the United States, getting a picture of a member on every other continent, and seeing how many members I can also get a picture of with their young goslings or ducklings.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatidae