Ducks, geese and swans are members of the Anatidae family. This family of water birds has its range extending across most parts of the World, occurring in six Continents except Antarctica. These exceptional birds are excellent swimmers and are capable of floating on all water surfaces and in rare occasions also dive in shallow water.
Anatidae family is comprised of over 174 species in 43 sub-families and over 23 of these species can be seen in Uganda. They are primarily herbivorous and feed on different water plants much as some species consume aquatic arthropods, fish, Molluscs and many others. When it comes to breeding, they are generally monogamous. Smaller ducks maintain a single partner for a whole season, then find new partner the next year while swans, geese and larger territorial ducks maintain their bonds for many years (sometimes for life).
Ducks, Geese and Swans are generally small to large-sized birds with wide and elongated bodies weighing between 164 grams to over 17 kilograms (especially swans). Their webbed feet make it easier for them to swim. The common species in Uganda Include:
African Black Duck (Anas sparsa).
Sometimes known as the Ethiopian black ducks, Black River Ducks or West African ducks, the African Black Ducks are generally black with white spots on their backs, orange legs and feet as well as dark bills. These Ducks also clearly display the purple-blue speculum while flying and are 48-57 centimeters long.
These birds are common in Gabon, South Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and South African and are rarely spotted around streams and Rivers of Uganda.
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus).
Egyptian Geese are one of the largest birds of the Duck, Geese and Swan family extending for 71 to 73 centimeters long, wingspan of 135 to 155 centimeters in addition to being strong and aggressive.
They occupy areas of Nile Valley or close to water bodies of southern sub-Saharan Africa. If you are on a birding tour in Uganda, you will see them around Lake Victoria and Nile River. They are characterized by primarily brown color with white patches on their wings as well as stunning pink feet.
Red-billed Duck (Anas erythrorhyncha).
These ones are small and mainly have chocolate-brown skull cap, incredibly beautiful red bills with dark saddles and white cheeks. They display buff flight feathers when flying as well as black stripe on their brown wings. They are common around open fresh waters and their diet is mainly comprised of seeds and flora.
Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma).
These duck species are dark-looking with broad white wing band that is clearly displayed during flight. There are two main sub-species of these ducks (the South American and African southern Pochard), and in Uganda you will see the latter, around water bodies with or without emergent vegetation.
Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis).
The Spur-winged Goose weighs between 4-7 kilograms and stretches for 75 to 115 centimeters long. These Geese inhabit open grasslands with Lakes, seasonal pools, River deltas, wetlands, Rivers, and are common around the verdant wetlands of Murchison falls National Park (largest and most popular destination in Uganda).
They are said to be poisonous, given the blister beetles that makes up their diet. They are identifiable by their black color with large white wing patches that are clear during flight, long legs of pinkish-red color.
African Pygmy-goose (Nettapus auritus).
The African Pygmy Goose is one of the most beautiful and smallest of wildfowls of Africa weighing about 285 grams and wingspan of 142-165 millimeters. They are surprisingly more of ducks than geese although their beaks are similar to those of Geese.
Other Ducks, Geese and Swans species in Uganda are the Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope), the Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa), Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos), Hartlaub’s Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii), Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Cape Teal (Anas capensis), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Hottentot Teal (Anas hottentota), Garganey (Anas querquedula), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca) and White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata).
