Examples of birds that can swim include American coots, American dippers, anhinga, arctic tern, and Atlantic puffin.
While most birds are content to stick to land, a few species have adapted to life in the water. The most well-known swimming bird is probably the penguin, but several types of ducks, geese, and swans are equally at home in the water.
In addition, some birds, like the cormorant, use their powers of swimming to help them catch fish. Unlike other birds that simply paddle across the surface of the water, cormorants dive deep in search of their next meal.
Examples of Birds that Can Swim
1. American Coots
| Scientific Name | Fulica americana |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | During the summer, these birds are found centered around the freshwater lakes and ponds of the northern United States and southern Canada |
These black birds are frequently seen swimming in lakes and ponds, but they are just as comfortable walking on land. Their legs are so short that they often have to run across the water to get airborne.
Related Article: 30 Birds that Fly South for Winter
2. American Dipper
| Scientific Name | Cinclus mexicanus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | on fast-flowing mountain streams and cold coastal streams of western North America and Central America |
This small, dark bird is more at home in streams than anywhere else. It can be found bobbing along on rocks in the fast-moving water or standing still on a branch waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting fish.
Related Article: 29 Birds that Run
3. Anhinga
| Scientific Name | Anhinga anhinga |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Florida. It is also found from coastal sections of South Carolina westward to Texas and Mexico, and even south to Argentina |
The anhinga is a long, thin bird that spends most of its time in the water. It has olive-brown feathers and a long, snake-like neck. When it dives for fish, it often swims completely under the water.
4. Arctic Tern
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Antarctica |
This small bird breeds in the Arctic Circle and spends the winter in Antarctica. Along the way, it stops on various islands in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Arctic tern has been known to travel more than 30,000 kilometers in a year, making it one of the longest-distance migrants of any animal.
5. Atlantic Puffin
| Scientific Name | Fratercula arctica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North Atlantic Ocean |
These unique birds are excellent swimmers and can even fly underwater. When hunting for fish, they will dive from the surface and swim up to 60 feet (18 meters) below. To help them achieve this feat, their wings are specially adapted to act like flippers.
6. Black Swan
| Scientific Name | Cygnus atratus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southeast and southwest Australia and Tasmania |
The Black Swan is a species of waterfowl that is native to Australia. These birds are known for their black plumage, which is a striking contrast to the white plumage of most other swans. Black Swans are also larger than most other swan species, with adults typically weighing between 8 and 12 kg (18-26 lbs).
These birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, lakes, and rivers. Black Swans typically eat aquatic plants, but they will also consume small animals if given the opportunity.
7. Black Tern
| Scientific Name | Chlidonias niger |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Nests in freshwater marshes and bogs; winters in coastal lagoons, marshes, and open ocean waters |
This bird is found in both North and South America. It breeds near freshwater marshes and lakes, but during the winter it can be found in coastal waters. The black tern feeds on small fish, insects, and crustaceans.
8. Boobies
| Scientific Name | Sula |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Pacific from southern California to northern Peru and on the Galápagos Islands |
Boobies are a type of seabird that can be found throughout the tropical oceans of the world. These birds are excellent swimmers and can often be seen diving into the water in pursuit of fish. Boobies typically nest on remote islands or coastlines, making them difficult for predators to reach.
9. Brown Pelicans
| Scientific Name | Pelecanus occidentalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts in the Americas |
The brown pelican is a large bird with a long neck and a bill. It has brownish-black plumage, a white belly, and large webbed feet. These birds are excellent swimmers and can often be seen diving for fish. Brown pelicans are found along coastlines in the Americas and typically nest in colonies.
Related Article: 19 Birds that Look Like Pelicans
10. Common Loons
| Scientific Name | Gavia immer |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Greenland, Iceland, and northern North America |
These large, black-and-white birds are often seen swimming on lakes and ponds. Their long necks and webbed feet help them move gracefully through the water, and their waterproof feathers keep them warm and dry. Loons use their powerful beaks to catch fish, which they swallow whole.
11. Common Tern
| Scientific Name | Sterna hirundo |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | along the Atlantic coast from Labrador to North Carolina, and inland throughout much of Canada east of the Rocky Mountains |
A bird that spends most of its time near water, the common tern is a graceful flier and an expert fisherman. This seabird can be found along coastlines around the world, where it hunts for small fish to eat.
The common tern is also known for its long-distance migrations; some populations travel more than 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) each year between their breeding and wintering grounds.
12. Cormorants
| Scientific Name | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean from Labrador down to the tip of Florida |
The cormorant is a water bird with long, thin legs and a long neck. It has webbed feet and can swim powerfully, using its wings to help it dive. Cormorants are found near coasts and in inland waterways around the world. They often perch on rocks or branches near the water’s edge, waiting to pounce on their next meal.
13. Diving-Petrels
| Scientific Name | Pelecanoides |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Zealand islands such as the Solander Islands, Snares Islands, Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands |
Diving petrels are small seabirds that get their name from their habit of feeding by diving into the water to catch small fish and squid. These birds breed on islands off the coast of New Zealand and Chile, spending most of their time at sea. Diving petrels are among the deepest diving birds in the world, reaching depths of more than 30 meters.
14. Ducks
| Scientific Name | Anatidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | places where there is water like ponds, streams, and rivers |
Ducks are a type of bird that is adapted to swimming. They have webbed feet, which helps them move through the water easily. Ducks also have waterproof feathers, which keep them dry and warm while they are swimming.
15. Gannets
| Scientific Name | Morus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Northern Gannet breeds in only six well-established Canadian colonies |
Gannets are large, white birds that live along coasts and on offshore rocks and islands. They dive into the sea to catch fish, often plunging from great heights. Gannets have long, pointed wings and black-tipped tail feathers. Their bills are yellow with a hooked tip, and their eyes are blue.
Gannets breed in colonies on rocky cliffs or islands. They build their nests of seaweed, grass, and sticks high above the ground, sometimes using their own body heat to incubate their eggs. Both parents feed the chicks until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
16. Geese
| Scientific Name | Anser |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America, Central America, South America, Eurasia, Australia, Africa, and more. |
Geese are waterfowl that are members of the bird family Anatidae. This group includes ducks, swans, and geese. Geese are typically larger than ducks and have longer necks. They are also more aggressive than ducks. Most geese live in temperate or cold climates and breed during the springtime.
17. Giant Coot
| Scientific Name | Fulica gigantea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | lakes in the altiplano from central Peru, through western Bolivia, to north-eastern Chile and extreme north-western Argentina |
These big birds look a lot like ducks, but they’re actually members of the rail family. Giant coots are found in South America, and they’re excellent swimmers. These birds can often be seen swimming in lakes and rivers, with their heads bobbing above the water.
18. Great White Pelican
| Scientific Name | Pelecanus onocrotalus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | swamps, freshwater lakes, brackish lakes, marshes, and deltas of Africa (Asia and Europe). |
These birds are some of the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan that can reach almost 10 feet. They use their size and strength to their advantage, swooping down on schools of fish and scooping them up in their large beaks.
19. Horned Grebes
| Scientific Name | Podiceps auritus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mostly on northern marshes in summer, and coastal bays in winter. Also widespread in Eurasia |
Horned grebes are small water birds with long, sharp bills. They are excellent swimmers and can often be seen diving for fish. Horned grebes have a distinctive breeding plumage, with black heads and necks and white stripes running down the sides of their faces.
20. Least Tern
| Scientific Name | Sternula antillarum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | areas along the coasts of Florida including estuaries and bays, as well as areas around rivers in the Great Plains |
The Least Tern is the smallest member of the tern family. It can be found in coastal areas throughout the world. These tiny birds are only about 9 inches long and have a wingspan of 18 inches.
Least Terns primarily eat fish, but they will also eat insects and crustaceans. To catch their prey, they dive into the water from a height of 10-30 feet.
21. Mute Swans
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | aquatic habitats ranging from urban lakes and farm ponds to coastal estuaries |
The Mute Swan is a large white bird with an orange beak. These birds are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Mute swans are the heaviest flying birds in the world, with some males weighing over 15 kg (33 pounds). Mute swans live near lakes, rivers, and wetlands. In winter, they often migrate to warmer areas.
22. Pacific Loon
| Scientific Name | Gavia pacifica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | northern Canada and eastern Siberia, and winters along the Pacific coast of North America |
The Pacific loon is a type of diving bird that can be found in the northern parts of North America. These birds spend most of their time on large bodies of water, where they use their powerful swimming skills to catch fish.
23. Penguins
| Scientific Name | Spheniscidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Antarctic coasts and sub-Antarctic islands |
Penguins are a type of bird that is adapted to live in the water. They have webbed feet and feathers that are waterproof, which helps them to swim. Penguins live in cold climates, such as Antarctica, and use their swimming abilities to hunt for food.
24. Royal Tern
| Scientific Name | Thalasseus maximus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | along the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic Coast, less numerous in California |
The royal tern is a type of seabird that can be found along coastlines in the southern parts of the United States, as well as in Central and South America. These birds get their name from their regal appearance, which includes a black cap on their head and a long, curved bill.
Royal terns are also known for their striking orange-red beak and legs. While they do spend some time on land, royal terns are most at home on the water where they can be seen swimming and diving in search of fish.
25. Shearwaters
| Scientific Name | Procellariiformes |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, mostly in tropical waters; in North America, it is regular over warm waters off the southeastern coast |
These long-winged, dark-colored birds look somewhat like small albatrosses. There are more than 70 species of shearwaters, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Most shearwaters nest on remote islands, coming ashore only to mate and raise their young. When they’re not nesting, shearwaters spend most of their time far out at sea, where they use their webbed feet to paddle through the water in search of small fish and squid.
26. Tufted Puffins
| Scientific Name | Fratercula cirrhata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | along the northern Pacific Coast |
These small, black-and-white birds are excellent swimmers, using their wings to “fly” through the water in pursuit of fish. Puffins mate for life, and when they’re not swimming or feeding their young, they can often be seen perched on rocks near the shoreline.
27. Tundra Swan
| Scientific Name | Cygnus columbianus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the remote arctic of North America |
The tundra swan is a large bird, similar in size to the trumpeter swan. It has a long neck and a black bill. The body is white with grayish wings. The legs and feet are black.
Tundra swans breed in the Arctic tundra of North America and Eurasia. They build their nests on the ground, among the tundra vegetation. The female lays 3 to 8 eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days.
28. Western Grebe
| Scientific Name | Aechmophorus occidentalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Canada through California, and sometimes in Mexico |
These long-necked birds are excellent swimmers, and can often be seen swimming in pairs. Western Grebes mate for life, and perform an elaborate courtship dance that involves swimming in circles around each other.
29. Whooper Swan
| Scientific Name | Cygnus cygnus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Aleutian Islands, Alaska |
The whooper swan is a large white bird that is closely related to the more familiar mute swan. These birds are native to North America and Europe, and they typically migrate great distances in order to find suitable habitats. Whooper swans usually live near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and marshes.
Conclusion
Birds that can swim have evolved to be able to live in both water and air, which gives them a distinct advantage over other birds. The most famous swimming bird is probably the penguin, but there are many other types of birds that can swim including ducks, geese, swans, and even some seabirds.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.