A waterbird is any bird that lives on or near water and depends on it for survival. Ducks, geese, swans, pelicans, herons, and many kinds of gulls are all waterbirds. These birds have special features that help them thrive in watery environments: many have webbed feet for swimming, waterproof feathers that help keep them dry, and long legs or necks for wading or reaching food.

Different waterbirds have adapted to different ways of life. Ducks and geese paddle on the surface and sometimes dive down to grab plants or small fish. Herons stand perfectly still in shallow water, waiting to catch fish with their sharp beaks. Pelicans dive from the air and scoop up fish in their huge throat pouches.

You'll find waterbirds almost anywhere there's water: ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastlines. Some waterbirds migrate thousands of miles between their summer and winter homes, navigating by landmarks, the sun, and even Earth's magnetic field. When you see a duck floating peacefully on a pond or a heron hunting in the shallows, you're watching a waterbird perfectly suited to its watery world.