The Anatidae is a large family of birds that is comprised of ducks, swans, and geese among others. The Magpie goose is however no longer a part of this family. A water lifestyle that includes swimming, diving and spending time on the surface of the water is common within the Anatidae biological family. They are mostly found in rivers, marshlands and lakes. They are found almost everywhere in all the continents with the exception of Antarctica. There are known subfamilies and 12 different tribes that do not include the magpie goose.

Among their physical attributes are that they are large, have webbed feet and have flat beaks. Their weight ranges from about 230grams to 22.5kg across the family with body length that also ranges from 33 cm to 1.80 m. Most have long graceful bodies. They have a variety of colors that vary from dull while others can be quite colorful. Some of these birds are brown; others have a white and black appearance. It is common to also see metallic green Anatidae birds. In some of the birds, you find that the males are conspicuous and more brightly colored than the females.

Their feathers have unique oils that allow water to drip off easily. The Anatids are known to make a lot noise especially during migration. They quack, squeal and trumpet away as if to announce their departure and arrival. The female has been known to have deeper vocals than the male.

Most Anatids are herbivorous and this is where they use their flat bills to pull out water plants. Some few members of the Anatidae family however feed on fish like the mergansers which have serrated beaks to clutch the fish.

A good number of birds in this family are known to be excellent flyers apart from a few that do more wading and swimming.

When it comes to mating, they are said to be seasonal breeders who practice a monogamous lifestyle though this also changes as the seasons come and go. One really unique characteristic that they possess is the ability to copulate because they have a penis. We know that this is an organ that is not common among animals like birds. They however lay eggs.

It is feared that more species in the Anatidae family are at a risk of being extinct. 5 of them are already extinct and many more are headed down that road. Man has contributed to this because some of the Anatids are of great importance to him while some lose their habitats when wetlands cease to exist due to draining or drying due to climate change influenced greatly by man’s activities. A small percentage of these birds are used for food.

It is common for most of the Anatidae family to migrate every time a new season that they can not live in sets in. This is one of their survival tactics. There are some short distance migrants while others are long distance migrants. There are a few who choose to be inactive.