Meaning & use
waterfowl
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable or uncountable
Birds such as ducks, geese, and swans that live on or near water.
Grammar: The plural is also waterfowl; 'waterfowls' is not used. It can be countable when referring to individual birds (a waterfowl) or uncountable when referring to the group.
Patterns
- a waterfowl
- waterfowl population
- hunt waterfowl
The lake is home to many waterfowl, including ducks and geese.
We spotted a rare waterfowl on the pond.
Waterfowl migrate south for the winter.
Word forms
| plural | waterfowl |
|---|
Common combinations
- waterfowl hunting
- Waterfowl hunting is regulated to protect bird populations.
- waterfowl refuge
- The national waterfowl refuge protects migratory birds.
- waterfowl migration
- Waterfowl migration occurs along the Mississippi Flyway.
- waterfowl habitat
- Wetlands provide essential waterfowl habitat.
Synonyms and how they differ
- waterbird
- Waterbird is a broader term that includes any bird associated with water, while waterfowl specifically refers to ducks, geese, and swans.
Commonly confused: waterfowl or waterfall?
waterfowl vs waterfall
Waterfall is a cascade of water, while waterfowl are birds. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'waterfowl' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option B correctly uses 'waterfowl' to refer to ducks and geese at a pond. Option An is less typical because waterfowl usually live on freshwater, not the ocean. Option C is wrong because waterfowl are birds, not airplanes. Option D is wrong because waterfowl are not caught with fishing rods.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “waterfowl”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.