Skip to Content

Which Birds Have Webbed Feet?

A juvenile swan left foot against a concrete floor.

Penguins, geese, ducks, albatrosses, coots, avocets, and flamingos are a few examples of birds that have webbed feet. Did you know that there are over 400 bird species with webbed feet? Webbing between the toes is a feature of swimming among certain birds.

The webbed feet help the bird to be more effective in the water. Additionally, diving birds also use it to propel themselves through the water. I’ve always been impressed by gosling’s ability to swim as early as two weeks after birth.

But, until I learned about their webbed feet, I was always perplexed about how they could swim at such a young age. Let’s look at the different webbed feet and birds with web-feet features.

Webbed Foot Explained?

A close-up shot of a flamingo webbed foot.

The webbed foot in birds is an anatomic structure comprising the skin that connects the digits of a bird. This structure allows the bird to swim and helps them walk in unstable surfaces such as muddy or swampy places. You can find this anatomical structure of webbed feet in many species of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds.

It’s primarily found in birds that depend on swimming for a significant part of their lives. Most birds that have webbed feet live near water. You may also find webbed feet in amphibians and mammals such as frogs and American beavers.

The Types of Webbed Feet

The fusion of all or some toes forms webbed feet in birds via thin sheets of skin. This can be classified based on the extent of webbing and the type of toes involved.

Here are the different categories of webbed feet in birds.

  • Palmate: A large membrane connects the anterior toes at full length in palmate feet. The front toe, known as hallux, is entirely separate from the other three toes, forming a hind toe. Palmate feet are standard in birds like ducks, geese, gulls, and swans.
  • Totipalmate Feet: A broad, thin membrane binds all four toes in these feet that are flat and resemble paddle-like structures. You can find the totipalmate feet in penguins, grebes, pelicans, and cormorants.
  • Semipalmate Feet: Only three toes out of four are bound by a small web in these webbed feet, whereas the fourth toe remains free. Waterbirds such as ducks, geese, herons, grouse, sandpipers, plovers, and avocets have these webbed feet.
  • Lobate Feet: Lobate feet are large, flat feet with webbing between the toe webs that are restricted to around the base of toes only. Grebes, finfoots, coots, and phalaropes have lobate feet.

Which Birds Have Webbed Feet?

There are many birds with webbed feet, and in this article, I’ll highlight just a few.

1. Ducks

A mother duck and her ducklings.

The secret of success is to be like a duck, smooth and unruffled on top, But paddling furiously underneath.” Bill Cosby. Ducks are waterfowl that are part of the Anatidae family. They have a broad bill, short necks, and short legs.

Most ducks feed off of water plants, insects, small fish, worms, and mollusks. You can find ducks in both fresh and seawater. In a 2016 waterfowl survey, the estimated population for duck breeding was 48.4 million.

There are different duck types and species widely spread throughout the world. The largest duck globally is the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), which has a body length of up to 30 inches and weighs 15 pounds.

2. Penguins

Gentoo penguins crossing at Antarctica.

One can’t be angry when one looks at a penguin.” John Ruskin. Penguins are flightless birds, and they mostly live in the southern hemisphere. There are 18 penguin species, and they have a streamlined body that helps them swim efficiently.

They are known for black and white coloring, and you can easily find them in zoos worldwide, where their antics delight visitors of all ages. Penguins are carnivores, and they feed primarily on fish, crabs, squid, crabs, krill, and other seafood available. These birds do not have teeth, but their tongues have spines.

Their weight ranges from 2 to 88 pounds.

3. Gulls

A group of Black-headed gulls in the snow.

Gulls, also known as colloquially seagulls, refer to any seabird in the family Laridae. These birds are gray or white with black markings under their head or wings. They have a wide range of habitats and can be found in many parts worldwide.

These birds are often seen near the coast, on the shores of lakes, or on the banks of rivers. A gull’s diet is varied and consists of small fish, insects, worms, and other small creatures that live in the water. In addition, they can fly for long distances and are very fast fliers.

Some species even migrate over great distances each year. These birds are excellent at walking, flying, and swimming.

4. Albatrosses

A flying laysan albatross in the sky.

Albatrosses are brilliant birds that live in the sea. This is among the largest flying birds in the world. They also have long legs, making them excellent at walking on land.

Albatrosses fly long distances over open oceans, using air currents to glide for long periods without flapping their wings. They use a particular maneuver at takeoff to get airborne called “dynamic soaring.” This seabird has the largest wingspan of any bird and can cover great distances easily, flying hundreds of miles without touching the ground.

As a result, it’s not uncommon for an albatross to spend years at sea before returning to land.

5.  Coots

Coots breeding on the lake.

A coot is a bird that lives in the marshes. It comes from the Rail family, Rallidae. It has huge feet with webbed skins, which helps it swim easily in muddy and shallow water.

The feet also help in getting airborne. However, they are not very fast flyers and prefer swimming or walking on the ground. Coots are gray to black with a white bill.

These birds are omnivorous, eating both animal and plant life. They prefer to nest near water sources and live in colonies.

6. Avocets

Avocet waiting for his prey in their natural environment.

Avocets are a family of wading birds that live near the water. They have long legs, long necks, and long bills. Avocets use their long bills to filter food out of the water, and their webbed feet help them stand in shallow water while they do it.

There are four species of avocet: the American, the red-necked, Andean, and the pied avocet.  These birds love to spend most of their time around water. Avocets are carnivores, and their diet includes shrimps, water fleas, beetles, brine flies, and amphipods. These birds love spending most of their time in shallow fresh and saltwater wetlands.

7. Flamingos

A high definition photo of group of flamingos.

Flamingos are large birds with pink plumage and long legs and necks. They have beaks that curve down and love their heads facing down. However, when they walk on land, flamingos walk with their heads facing up unless they are looking for food.

Flamingos also have webbed feet, which help them move through water without sinking. The beautiful birds live in tropical climates worldwide but are most often found near the equator or in areas where it’s warm year-round. They prefer shallow lakes and lagoons because these areas provide enough food for them.

Flamingos are intelligent birds; they even have mating rituals to attract females.

Takeaway

Many birds have webbed feet. These include ducks, albatrosses, coots, avocets, and flamingos. Most of these birds live in water or near water.

Birds use the webbed feet for swimming and gaining stability on uneven ground, such as muddy surfaces.

  • It’s Not Water: Pooph is totally fragrance free because it eliminates odor instead of covering it up! Pooph contains no harsh chemicals—it’s a proprietary mineral-based formula so clean and pure you could actually mistake it for pure natural spring water until you actually use it and see for yourself how miraculously it works!
  • Risk-Free Guarantee: Try POOPH for 30 days and if you aren’t happy, simply return it for a 100% no-hassle refund. Just send us a message via your Amazon order page and we’ll take care of the rest!
  • Instant & Safe: Instantly and safely freshens and dismantles puppy, dog, cat, pet, and litter urine and feces odors on a molecular basis – so they never return! Safe for people, pets, plants, and the planet!
  • Eliminates: Safely eliminates (doesn’t just cover up) urine, feces, vomit, and other pet odors that may invite your pets to defecate in the same spot over and over
  • No stains & Fragrance Free: Contains a clear, odorless, and non-staining formula that freshens and eliminates odors and will not stain carpets, clothing, toys, and more - use in every room in your house
  • PREMIUM QUALITY: A combination of premium texture and granule size made with 100% bentonite clay for maximum clumping creates litter particles that are just the right size.
  • LOW DUST: Ideal for cats and owners who suffer from allergies with a 99.9% dust-free and hypoallergenic litter formulation.
  • HARD CLUMPING: Hard clumping medium grain clay helps prevent moisture from reaching the bottom of the tray and forms hard clumps that won't break down, making it easier to scoop.
  • SUPERIOR ODOR CONTROL: Formulated for single or multi-cat households with natural ingredients to keep your home smelling clean and fresh between litter box cleanings.
  • LOW TRACKING: A unique formulation of medium grain clay helps keep litter in the box where it belongs.
  • FOUNDED IN 1987: Dr. Elsey’s is a veterinarian-owned cat product brand dedicated to creating products that solve the complex needs of pet owners. Founded in 1987 with the first all-natural clumping cat litter, Dr. Elsey’s line of products has since grown to include a variety of premium litters that address the health and behavioral needs of cats in every stage of life.
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards can only be used to purchase eligible goods and services on Amazon.com and certain related sites as provided in the Amazon.com Gift Card Terms and Conditions. To purchase a gift card for use on an Amazon website in another country, please visit: Amazon.ca, Amazon.cn, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.in, Amazon.it, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.es, or Amazon.com.au.
  • Open four-arm frame design protects the blade and does not trap dirt in the case
  • Lightweight case for easy handling and transport
  • Dual-material grip elevated above the reel prevents contact between reel and knuckles
  • Versatile folding end hook for use in multiple applications
  • Rewind reel tucks away for protection during storage
  • ROLL ON: Our compact and convenient dog poop bag refill rolls help you keep poop bags where you need them–everywhere.
  • DURABLE & LEAKPROOF: Extra long, extra strong and 100% leak-proof guaranteed to keep hands clean on the go.
  • BETTER BAGS : A new generation of high quality & durable dog poop bags made from 65% certified post-consumer recycled plastic. Giving a second life to over 5 million pounds of landfill-bound plastic a year recycled plastic.
  • OUR MISSION: At Earth Rated, We are on a mission to make life with dogs simpler and better. We are also proudly B Corp Certified.
  • WHAT'S INCLUDED: This pack includes 270 lavender scented Earth Rated dog poop bags that measure 9"x13" on 18 refill rolls.
  • Contains one (1) 15.8 oz. 60-count value pack of GREENIES PILL POCKETS Capsule Size Natural Dog Treats Chicken Flavor; MADE WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS plus trace nutrients
  • GREENIES Pill Pockets are the tasty, smarter way to help your dog’s medicine go down—without trying to hide pills in human food like messy peanut butter or cheese
  • Your dog won’t be able to sniff out the medicine: Pill Pockets mask the smell and taste, and come in an irresistible chicken flavor for a stress- and mess-free experience for you both
  • These Pill Pockets Dog Treats are a cinch to use: Drop the medicine tablet inside the pocket, pinch it closed, and give your best friend a tasty snack
  • When it comes to meds, pets are smart—but you’re smarter: GREENIES Pill Pockets are a vet-recommended medicating treat hack you and your dog will love
  • These easy-to-use medicating pouches make taking medicine a positive experience for your dog
  • Contains one (1) 30 oz. tub of TEMPTATIONS Classic Cat Treats Tasty Chicken Flavor
  • Your cat can’t wait to get their paws on these scrumptious cat food treats that are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
  • Under 2 calories per chicken flavor cat treat, so you can feel good about rewarding your cat every day
  • TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats are 100% nutritionally complete and balanced for adult cat maintenance and can be used as a treat, meal, or cat food topper
  • Treat ’em again and again with this super value-sized resealable tub: perfect for keeping cat paws off when you’re not watching
  • America’s #1 Cat Treat Brand*… just shake the pack and they’ll come running
  • *Based on 2019 Nielsen sales data
  • Contains one (1) 40 ounce package of small dog treats with real bone marrow (packaging may vary)
  • The dog biscuit shell encases a real bone marrow center, delicious treats that you can feel good about giving
  • Crunchy on the outside and meaty on the inside, our MaroSnacks dog snacks are a satisfying combo of texture and mouthwatering flavor
  • Savory treats with calcium, perfect for dogs of all sizes
  • Baked with love in Buffalo, New York, USA, with colors from natural ingredients only

The Black Friday Deals

SHOP BEFORE OUR

SALE ENDS....