This volume in the popular New Naturalist series is a detailed account of the evolution and classification of the wildfowl of Britain and Ireland. David Cabot, an expert in his field, looks at population trends and life cycles in three case studies of best known species - the swan, goose, and duck, along with wildfowl behavior, courtship, and breeding. This comprehensive exploration of what sets British wildfowl apart from other birds also considers the relationships between wildfowl and man, through popular mythology and legends.