Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Gloucestershire, England
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Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans.
They are strong swimmers with medium to large bodies. They have historically been an important food source, and continue to be hunted as game, or raised as poultry for meat and eggs. The domestic duck is sometimes kept as a pet.
Some definitions of the term 'waterfowl' include the saltwater shorebirds or waderscitation needed, gulls, pelicans, and herons, as well as seabirds such as the albatross, and even the penguincitation needed, but generally 'fowl' refers to birds used by humans.citation needed
Waterfowl families
The following are groups of birds traditionally classed as waterfowlcitation needed; all but the rails are in the Anseriformes order.
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