Introduction
The term water bird or aquatic bird is used to refer to birds that live on or around water. Some definitions apply the term especially to birds in freshwater habitats, though others make no distinction from birds that inhabit marine environments. In addition, some water birds are more terrestrial or aquatic than others, and their adaptations will vary depending on their environment, Exotic birds. These adaptations include webbed feet, bills and legs adapted to feed in water, and the ability to dive from the surface or the air to catch prey in water.
Description
The term aquatic bird is sometimes also used in this context. A related term that has a narrower meaning is waterfowl. Some birds of prey, such as ospreys and sea eagles, take prey from water but are not considered water birds. The term waterbird is also used in the context of Exotic birds and conservation to refer to any birds that inhabit or depend on bodies of water or wetland areas. Examples of this use include the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and theWallnau Waterbird Reserve.
Different species of Freshwater birds
Many other birds have aquatic lifestyles but live closer to land. Among these are penguins, which live in the southernmost oceans near the Antarctic. Some species of penguins spend most of their lives in the water, coming on land only to reproduce and molt. Grebes and divers, or loons, are found on or near lakes. Grebes are unusual among birds because they make their nests on the water, using floating plant materials that they hide among reeds. Pelicans, known for their long bills and huge throat pouches, often switch between salt water and fresh water habitats during the year. Gulls are generalists among the aquatic birds, Exotic birds, feeding largely by scavenging over open water, along shores, or even inland areas. Waterfowl, a group that includes ducks, geese, and swans, often breed on freshwater lakes and marshes, although they sometimes make their homes in marine habitats.
Example of Freshwater Bird
Anhinga, genus of aquatic birds, related to and somewhat similar to the cormorant, but with straight rather than hooked bills, and a very long, thin neck with a triggerlike mechanism that aids in the underwater spearing of fish. Their tails are long and narrow, with a peculiar transverse ribbing. Anhingas live near freshwater swamps, lakes, and rivers of warm regions around the world. Exotic birds, the American species is widely distributed in the tropics and ranges north to the Gulf states and the Carolinas. Adult males are glossy black, with silvery-white streaks and spots on the back and wings. Female and young have buffy heads, necks, and breasts. The species known as the darter is found in Africa, Asia, and Australia.