swans, geese, ducks

Cygnus columbianus (body 120 cm) Bewick's swan Smallest UK swan. All white plumage with a short straight neck. Beak is black with a yellow triangle at the base (smaller than in the Whooper swan). Breeds on tundra swamps; Overwinters on sheltered seas, marshes and large lakes. Uncommon in the UK, though locally numerous on regular wintering spots. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Cygnus olor (body 150 cm) Mute swan Large white swan with long neck carried in characterisitic 'S'-shape. Dark orange beak with black knob on the forehead; knob is larger in the male. Wings held over back like sails in defence of territory or young. Hisses and grunts when annoyed. Juveniles are fluffy greyish-beige with a grey beak. Found on all types of freshwater and sometimes on sheltered seas. Widespread and common. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire . Images are of (a) adult, (b) male head, (c) female head, (d) adult nesting, (e) juvenile (cygnet)

Cygnus cygnus (body 150 cm) Whooper swan White with long straight neck. Black beak with large wedge-shaped yellow triangle at base (larger than Bewick's swan). Breeds on tundra swamps; Overwinters on sheltered seas, marshes and large lakes. Uncommon in the Uk, although locally regular and rarely numerous. Image taken at Lake Windermere, Lake District, Cumbria .

Branta leucopsis (body 62 cm) Barnacle goose Characteristic black and white plumage with dark brown back. Breeds in rocky areas on tundra. Overwinters on coastal grassland and salt marshes. Rare, but may be locally numerous. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Branta bernicla (body 60 cm) Brent goose Small goose with a short neck. Gnerally blackish brown with a white rump and tail. Neck has a slim white collar. Black beak and legs. Flies in loose floacks, not assuming the 'V-shape' of other geese flocks in flight. Breeds on the arctic tundra; Overwinters in estuaries, bays, marshes and fields. Widespread and locally common. Image taken at Calshot, Hampshire .

Anser anser (body 80 cm) Greylag goose Large stocky grey goose. Dark greyish-brown above with pale feather fringes and pale greyish-brown below. White rump. Beak is orange in the Western European race and pink in the Eastern European race. Breeds in colonies on tundra and moors close to water. Overwinters on marshes, farmland and estuaries. Widespread and locally numerous. Image taken at Derwent Water, Lake District, Cumbria .

Anser albifrons (body 70 cm) Greenland white-fronted goose Greyish-brown all over with a white rump. Breast has black streaks. Beak is orange with a white patch at the base. Orange legs. Breeds on tundra. Overwinters on rough grassland, marshes and fields. Widepsread and locally numerous. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Anser brachyrhynchus (body 65 cm) Pink-footed goose Greyish-blue back with dark brown breast and flanks, white rump. Short dark brown neck. Black beak with pink marks; pink les. Breeds on rocky areas on tundra; Overwinters on marshes, large lakes and nearby farmland. Widespread and locally numerous. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Branta canadensis (body 75 cm) Canada goose Large goose. Adult has a dark brown upperparts fading to white below. Black head and neck with characteristic white cheek patch. Dark grey legs and black beak. Found on large freshwaters including parks. Image taken at Cotswold Water Park, Ashton Keynes, Costwolds .

Tadorna tadorna (body 60 cm) Shelduck Goose-like. Adult has white plumahhge with a bottle green head.; white breast with a chestnut band beneath; two black stripes on the back. Scarlet beak with the knob at the base larger in males. Pink legs. Juveniles lack the chestnut band and have grey markings. Found on estuaries and sheltered coasts. Widespread and common. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Tadorna ferruginea (body 60 cm) Ruddy shelduck Characteristic orange plumage. Male has a black neck collar; female lacks this collar. Breeds in holes far from the water. Overwinters on grassland. Rare visitor to the UK; although some may be a result of escapees from collections. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Anas platyrhynchos (body 58 cm) Mallard Male is grey-brown with a white tail and curled black feathers on the rump; bottle green head with white neck ring and chestnut breast; yellowish-green beak. Female and juveniles are shaded with brown, beige and black flecks; brownish-orange beak. Found all year on most waters. Widepsread and common; often numerous. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Anas querquedula (body 40 cm) Garganey Male plumage consists of a brown back with grey flanks fading to a whitebelly. The breast is flecked white and brown. The head is brown with a white eye stripe. The female and juveniles are light brown with dark markings. Found on freshwater marshes and lakes and ditches with reed beds. Widepsread but rarely numerous; Uncommon winter visitor to the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Anas strepera (body 50 cm) Gadwall Male is greyish-brown with a black rump. Thhe female and juvenile are flecked brown. Breeds on marhses and lakes; Overwinters on similar habitats and sheltered coasts. Widespread but not usually numerous; overwinters in the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Anas crecca (body 35 cm) Teal Male has a grey back and flanks with a golden rump; beige breast with grey flecks. Chestnut head with a thick green eye stripe. Female and juveniles are speckled greyish-brown. Breeds on marhses and bogs that have reed fringes. OVerwinters in similar habitiats often inland but also on estuaries and sheltered coasts. Widespread and common. Image taken at Lodmoor RSPB reserve, W eymouth, Dorset .

Anas acuta (body 70 cm) Pintail Male has a white belly with grey flanks and a greyish-brown back. The head and neck are dark brown, with a white mark down the side of the neck. Legs and beak are grey; characteristic long tail. The female and juveniles are pale brown with dark brown markings. Breeds on moors and marshes near to the water. Overwinters on coastal waters. Widespread and common winter visitor to the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Anas penelope (body 45 cm) Wigeon Male has a grey back and flanks with a black rump and pink breast. The head is red with a yellow crown stripe. The female and juvenile are brwon with dark flecks. Breeds on moorland and tundra near water; Overwinters onn lakes, marshes, estuaries, flooded meadows and sheltered coasts. Widepsread and common. Overwinters in the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Anas clypeata (body 50 cm) Shoveler Distinctive shovel-like beak. Male has a white breast and underside with chestnut flanks. The back is greyish-brown and the head is bottle green. Female and juveniles are speckled brown. Breeds on marshes and redd fringed lakes and ponds. Overwinters in similar habitats but also reservoirs and sheltered coasts. Widespread and common, though not usually numerous. Image taken at Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset .

Aythya fuligula (body 43 cm) Tufted duck Male is black with a purple sheen to the head. Flanks are white. Drooping crest during the breeding season. Female is dark brown with paler flanks and a white patch at the base of the beak. Eyes are golden yellow and bgrey beaks. Frequently dives. Breeds on reed fringed lakes, ditches and ponds; Overwinters on similar waters and larger lakes. Widepsread and common. Image taken at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset .

Aythya nyroca (body 40 cm) Ferruginous duck Male has dark brown back, chestnut flanks with redish-brown head and neck; white eye. Female head and neck are chestnut but the rest of the body is duller brown. Frequently dives. Breeds on reed fringed lakes; Overwinters on large lakes. Rare visitor to the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Aythya marila (body 45 cm) Scaup Adult is similar to the Tufted duck with the exception of distinguishing grey back, greenish sheen to the head and white eyes. Female has a large white patch at the base of the beak, dark brown with paler flanks. Frequently dives. Breeds on marshland.; Overwinters on coastal seas. Widepsread can be locally common though rarer in the UK.Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Aythya ferina (body 45 cm) Pochard Male has a grey back with white underparts. The breast and rump are black; reddish-brown head. The female and juveniles are dull brown with paler brown on the cheeks, throat and belly. Frequently dives. Breeds on large reed fringed lakes; Overwinters on large lakes including reservoirs. Winter visitor to the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Netta rufina (body 55cm) Red-crested pochard Male has a brown back and white flanks and underside. Neck and breast is black with a chestnut head; scarlet beak. Female and juvenile are brown on top fading to a paler brown on the underside; Brown crown and greyish-white cheek patches. Found on large fresh or brackish waters with reed beds. Irregular winter visitor to the UK. Image taken at (a) Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire, (b) Wild birds observed at Cotswold Water Park, near Swindon, Wiltshire .

Aix sponsa (body 45 cm) California wood duck Unmistakeable male; back is dark metallic blue and the head is bottle green with a crest and white markings.; the breast is dark chestnut with white specks and beige flanks. The female is similar to the female Mandarin duck but has a larger white eye ring. Found on ponds and rivers. Usually a result of escape from a collection. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Aix galericulata (body 42 cm) Mandarin Distinctive adult male - grey crown, thick white eye-stripe, orange-brown cheek feathers, upright orange sails on the back. The female has grey upperparts with a white eyespot; the underparts are grey mottled with white on the breast fading to white. Breeds in holes in trees near riverbanks. Overwinters on lakes. Breeding pairs present in the UK as escapees from collections. Image taken at Eyemouth Pond, Fritham, New Forest, Hampshire .

Aythya affinis (body 40 cm) Lesser scaup Usually found in North America, but a very rare winter vagrant to the UK. Similar to the Scaup but smaller and with a small crown making the head appear angular - the Scaup has a round head. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Oxyura jamaicensis (body 40 cm) Ruddy duck Stiff-tailed diving duck. Male has chestnut upperparts with a black head and white cheeks; underparts are white; distinctive blue beak and feet. The female and juvenile have a black crown and white cheeks; the body is dark brown fading to a paler brown below. Native to freshwater lakes and marshes of North America - present in the UK as an escapee from collections. Image taken at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset .

Somateria mollissima (body 60 cm) Eider Stocky sea duck. Male hyas a white back with black flanks and rump; head is white with a black crown and greenish neck and beak. Female is dark brown with pale brown flecks. Frequently dives. Breeds on sea coasts and islands; Overwinters on coastal seas. Widespread and locally common. Breeds in Scotland in the UK. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Clangula hyemalis (body 50 cm) Long-tailed duck Distinctive long black tail. Summer plumage of the male is mainly dark brown with white cheeks and flanks; Winter plumage is largely white with brown patches on the face, flank and back. The summer plumage of the female is brown above and white below with white face patches; Winter plumage consists of more extensive white ont the head and neck. Dives frequently. Breeds on tundra; Overwinters on coasts. Can be locally common; visitor to the UK. Image taken at Keyhaven & Pennignton Marshes, Keyhaven, Hampshire .

Bucephala islandica (body 52 cm) Barrow's goldeneye Characteristic golden eye. Male is black above and white below with a row of lozenge-shaped white bars on the wings. Purplish-black iridescent head. White eye patch beneath the eye. The female and juveniles are greyish-brown above with white underparts; chestnut head. Frequently dives. Breeds in lakeside holes only in Iceland. OVerwinters on open freshwater lakes and inshore seas. Rare visitor to the UK from Iceland. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Bucephala clangula (body 48 cm) Goldeneye Characteristic golden eye. Male is black above and white below with a row of thick white bars on the wings. Greenish-black iridescent head. White eye patch beneath the eye. The female and juveniles are greyish-brown above with white underparts; chestnut head. Often found in small fgroups regularly diving. Breeds in hollow trees or holes in the bankside; Overwinters on coasts or large inland freshwaters. Regular visitor, not numerous. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Mergus albellus (body 40 cm) Smew Smallest sawbill duck. Unmistakeable adult male is generally white with black eye patch, white crest and black bands on the back and side. The female has a grey body with a chestnut crown and white cheeks. Breeds in hollow trees or holes along the banks of freshwater sources. Overwinters on inland freshwater lakes, including reservoirs. Widespread and local, but never numerous. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Mergus merganser (body 63 cm) Goosander Large sawbill duck. Adult male has a black back with white flanks and undersides. Head is dark green, appearing angular due to a small crest. The female is possesses grey back and flanks with a chestnut head and neck with a white throat patch. Dives often. Breeds in holow tress or riverbank and lakeside holes. Overwinters on large lakes inland. Widespread but not numerous. Image taken at Slimbridge WWT, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire .

Easily identified by their association with water and webbed feet and 'duck-like' beaks. The group can be split into three -

(1) Swans - largest with big broad wings, long necks and white adult plumage (at least in the UK). Take-off from the water by a long run across the water whilst flapping the wings.

(2) Geese - smaller with long necks. Often graze in fields or marshes. Fly in a straggling V-shaped formation. Make honking noises.

(3) Ducks - generally smaller with short necks, float on the water. Distinctive male and female plumages. On land ducks have a clumsy waddling walk. Ducks can be split into two groups based on their feeding habits - (i) 'dabbling' ducks in shallow water or 'upending' in deeper water e.g. Mallard or (ii) 'diving' ducks that dive beneath the water for food in deeper lakes (e.g. Tufted duck) or at sea (i.e. sea ducks). Sea ducks tend to have heavier beaks and thicker set bodies e.g. Eider.