Articles about species belonging to the order which includes ducks, geese and swans. Anseriform taxa are distributed worldwide, except for the Antarctic region. Anhimids are restricted to South America and magpie geese Anseranatidae are found in Australia and New Guinea. Anseriform birds inhabit aquatic environments including lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, swamps and marshes. Some taxa are found in marine environments outside of the breeding season. Anseriform incubation lasts from 2247 days. Young are precocial, hatching with down and eyes open. Young generally forage for themselves shortly after hatching. Fledging occurs at about 510 weeks. Age at first reproduction varies with species, ranging from one to five years of age. Anseriform birds are medium to large birds 30180 cm; 230 g 22.5 kg. The plumage varies from gray or brown to black and white. Screamers are noted for head and neck ornaments, while anatids may have brightly colored speculums patch of color on secondaries in green, bronze, or blue. Juveniles have similar, yet duller plumage. In anhimids the bill is short and hooked, while anatid bills are broad and rounded. Most species have lamellate interior reduced in anhimids. The palate is desmognathous. Front toes are webbed, with long nonelevated hallux ahimids, or absent or small and elevated anatids. Male anatids have copulatory organ and partly or completely ossified tracheal and syringeal bullae. Anhimids lack uncinate processes on ribs and have pneumatic dermal layer beneath skin.

Website: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Anseriformes.html