Which bird group typically has webbed feet?

The story behind the answer

Waterfowl—ducks, geese, and swans—typically have fully webbed feet, which act like paddles to push against water, making swimming and takeoffs from the surface efficient. Their broad, connected toes increase surface area, giving strong propulsion with each stroke—an adaptation central to their lifestyle on ponds, lakes, and wetlands.

While many seabirds also have some webbing, “waterfowl” are the classic, defining example. In contrast, shorebirds (like sandpipers) have slender, often unwebbed toes for walking on mud, and passerines (songbirds) have perching feet. Fun extra: some