Editing Duck (section)

==Taxonomy==
All ducks belong to the [[order (biology)|biological order]] [[Anseriformes]], a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the [[screamer]]s, and the [[magpie goose]].{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=536}} All except the screamers belong to the [[family (biology)|biological family]] [[Anatidae]].{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=536}} Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=536}} Some base their decisions on [[morphology (biology)|morphological characteristics]], others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.{{sfn|Livezey|1986|pp=737–738}}{{sfn|Madsen|McHugh|de Kloet|1988|p=452}} The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.{{sfn|Donne-Goussé|Laudet|Hänni|2002|pp=353–354}}{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=540}} The significant level of [[hybrid (biology)|hybridisation]] that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=540}}

[[File:Mallard drake .02.jpg|thumbnail|[[Mallard]] landing in approach]]

In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.{{sfn|Elphick|Dunning|Sibley|2001|p=191}} The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks – named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.{{sfn|Kear|2005|p=448}} The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.{{sfn|Kear|2005|p=622–623}} The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.{{sfn|Kear|2005|p=686}} The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.{{sfn|Elphick|Dunning|Sibley|2001|p=193}}

A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The [[whistling duck]]s are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}} or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=540}}{{sfn|American Ornithologists' Union|1998|p=xix}} The [[freckled duck]] of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}} or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=540}} The [[shelduck]]s make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}} and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,{{sfn|American Ornithologists' Union|1998}} while the [[steamer duck]]s are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}} or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=540}} The [[perching duck]]s make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=540}} The [[torrent duck]] is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}} but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=538}} The [[pink-eared duck]] is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}} or the tribe Malacorhynchini,{{sfn|Christidis|Boles|2008|p=62}} and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.{{sfn|Carboneras|1992|p=537}}