Pronounced ah-NAT-ih-dee "Anatidae" comes from the Latin word ANAS, meaning duck. This family includes ducks, geese and swans. These birds are characterized by short legs, webbed feet, and lots of down and oily feathers which allow them to stay dry. They also have broad, flattened bills with "teeth" that can act as filters, keeping in food while expelling excess water (Welty and Baptista 1988). Members of this family are found worldwide, except in the polar regions, and are always found in or near water (Terres 1980).