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What are waterfowl?

Waterfowl are approximately 170 species of ducks, geese, swans, and screamers belonging to the order Anseriformes. Most waterfowl are aquatic, living in or near wetlands, rivers, lakes, and coastlines. Many share similar adaptations for aquatic life, like webbed feet for swimming, long necks and specialized bills for foraging, and highly waterproof outer feathers.

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Where can you see waterfowl?

Visit a local public wildlife refuge, park, preserve, nature center, or zoo to see and learn about waterfowl. Another way to find waterfowl (or any bird) near you is to use eBird, a free citizen science database where you can search by location for recent bird sightings.

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Educational Activities

Download free printable coloring pages, activities and fact sheets!

Coloring Page: Mandarin Duck | Español
Coloring Page: Brazilian Merganser | Español
Coloring Page: White-headed Duck | Español
Coloring Page: Orinoco Goose
Coloring Page: White-winged Duck
Connect the Dots: White-winged Duck
Connect the Dots: Mute Swan
Brazilian Merganser Paper Craft
Waterfowl Word Search
Waterfowl Crossword Puzzle
Waterfowl Maze

Waterfowl Facts

Download, print, or share these images on social media to promote waterfowl education and conservation!

Celebrate on Social Media

Share these images on social media to support World Waterfowl Day!

Waterfowl Videos

Enjoy narrated videos with facts about waterfowl, and video footage (non-narrated) featuring different waterfowl species. For informational captions about each species, please click here to view on YouTube.