Anseriformes an order of of class Aves contains four families (Anhimidae, Anseranatidae, Anatidae & Dendrocygnidae) with over 140 species of aquatic birds. Some authorities consider Dendrocygnidae to be a sub-family of Anatidae family with the name Dendrocygninae. Out of these 140 species of waterfowl, about 43 are found in India, 13 of them being resident and the rest winter visitors. There are no known sightings of birds belonging to Anhimidae and Anseranatidae families.

The web-footed Anseriformes are efficient swimmers and fully adapted for life on, or near water. All of these birds share modified bill and tongue that can suck water through the tip and expel it from the sides. Lamellae, an array of filter plates in mouth, filters small particles which are then consumed. Many of these species on further evolution, have adopted different feeding methods depending upon their habitats.

The following birds belonging to the Order Anseriformes are found in India:

Family: Anatidae

Sub-family: Anatini

Mandarin Duck  Aix galericulata - vagrant
Northern Pintail  Anas acuta - widespread winter visitor
Northern Shoveler  Anas clypeata - widespread winter visitor
Common Teal  Anas crecca - widespread winter visitor
Falcated Duck  Anas falcata - sparse winter visitor
Baikal Teal  Anas formosa - vagrant
Sunda Teal  Anas gibberifrons - local resident
Eurasian Wigeon  Anas penelope - widespread winter visitor
Mallard Anas  platyrhynchos - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Spot-billed Duck  Anas poecilorhyncha - widespread resident
Garganey  Anas querquedula - widespread winter visitor
Gadwall  Anas strepera - widespread winter visitor
Baer's Pochard  Aythya baeri - sparse winter visitor
Common Pochard  Aythya ferina - widespread winter visitor
Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula - widespread winter visitor
Greater Scaup  Aythya marila - sparse winter visitor
Ferruginous Pochard  Aythya nyroca - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Common Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula - sparse winter visitor
White-winged Duck  Cairina scutulata - local resident
Long-tailed Duck  Clangula hyemalis - vagrant
Marbled Teal  Marmaronetta angustirostris - sparse winter visitor
Smew  Mergellus albellus - sparse winter visitor
Common Merganser  Mergus merganser - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Red-breasted Merganser  Mergus serrator - vagrant
Red-crested Pochard  Netta rufina - widespread winter visitor
Pink-headed Duck  Rhodonessa caryophyllacea - local resident, now extinct

Sub-family: Anserini

Greater White-fronted Goose  Anser albifrons - sparse winter visitor
Greylag Goose  Anser anser - widespread winter visitor
Snow Goose  Anser caerulescens - vagrant
Lesser White-fronted Goose  Anser erythropus - vagrant
Bean Goose  Anser fabalis - vagrant
Bar-headed Goose  Anser indicus - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Comb Duck  Sarkidiornis melanotos - widespread resident
Red-breasted Goose  Branta ruficollis - vagrant
Cotton Pygmy-Goose  Nettapus coromandelianus - widespread resident

Sub-family: Tadorninae

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Common Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna

Sub-family: Cygninae

Tundra Swan  Cygnus columbianus - vagrant
Whooper Swan  Cygnus cygnus - vagrant
Mute Swan  Cygnus olor - vagrant

Sub-family: Oxyurinae

White-headed Duck  Oxyura leucocephala - sparse winter visitor

Family: Dendrocygnidae

Fulvous Whistling-Duck  Dendrocygna bicolor - widespread resident
Lesser Whistling-Duck  Dendrocygna javanica - widespread resident