General names
Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Comments and corrections welcome.
These familiar birds are normally divided into ducks, geese, and swans.
Ducks: In Japanese, the normal term for a wild duck is カモ kamo, written with the Chinese character 鴨 (less commonly 鳧). As the second term in a combination, カモ kamo generally becomes ガモ -gamo. Occasionally the terms カモドリ kamo-dori (鴨鳥 = 'duck-bird') or アシガモ ashi-gamo (葦鴨 = 'reed duck') may be seen. Note that domestic ducks are known by the completely different name of あひる ahiru, written 家鴨 ('domestic duck') or 鶩.
The Mandarin duck is known as the オシドリ oshi-dori, written 鴛鴦 as in Chinese.
The mergansers are known as アイサ aisa, written 秋沙 ('autumn sand').
Whistling ducks (actually a separate group from the ducks) are known as リュウキュウガモ Ryūkyū-gamo (琉球鴨), where Ryukyu is the archipelago that forms an arc between Kyushu and Taiwan and includes Okinawa.
Geese: Wild geese are generally called ガン gan, a Chinese borrowing written 雁 in characters. The native term is カリ kari, also written 雁, which originated in imitation of the birds' cry, and is more likely to be found in poetry. A much less common term is カタイトドリ kata-ito-dori, written 片糸鳥 and meaning 'yarn thread bird'. The domesticated goose has its own name, がちょう ga-chō (鵝鳥), which is from the Chinese word for 'goose', 鵝 é.
Swans: The swans are known in Japanese as ハクチョウ haku-chō, written 白鳥 ('white bird'). Other names are スワン suwan (from the English) and しらとり shira-tori (also meaning 'white bird' and written 白鳥 but read with the native kun reading). For the curious, black swans are officially known as コクチョウ (黒鳥) koku-chō or 'black birds', but are just as likely to be called burakku suwan.
In Japanese haiku, wild geese (がん gan, かり kari, or かりがね kari-gane) are a season word for late autumn. The wild duck or kamo 鴨, on the other hand, is normally a season word for winter, unless it is a 通し鴨 tōshi-gamo or 'sojourner duck', when it becomes a season word for summer.
The Japanese word カモ kamo colloquially refers to a gullible dupe or easy mark. To emphasise the point, Japanese will often use the jocular expression カモがやって来た、ネギをしょって kamo ga yatte kita, negi o shotte, 'a duck's coming, and it's brought the shallots with it!' (i.e., ready for cooking).
Species names
| DENDROCYGNINAE |
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
JAPANESE |
CHINESE |
KOREAN |
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Dendrocygna |
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Dendrocygna javanica
 |
Lesser whistling duck
Lesser whistling-duck
Indian whistling duck
Lesser treeduck
Whistling teal
Dendrocygne siffleur
Javapfeifgans
Древеснаяа свистщяая утка,
Утка свистящая малая,
Индийская свистящая утка,
Яванская свистящая утка |
リュウキュウガモ
(琉球鴨)
Ryūkyū-gamo
'Ryukyu duck' |
|
栗树鸭 (栗樹鴨)
lì shù-yā
'chestnut tree duck' |
樹鴨
shù-yā
'tree duck' |
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| ANSERINAE |
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
JAPANESE |
CHINESE |
KOREAN |
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Anser |
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Anser cygnoides
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Swan goose
Chinese goose
Oie cygnoïde
Schwanengans
Сухонос,
Гусь-сухонос |
サカツラガン
(酒面雁)
saka-tsura gan
'wine-faced goose' (refers to reddish-coloured face) |
|
鸿雁 (鴻雁)
hóng-yàn
'swangoose goose'
|
鴻雁
hóng-yàn
'swangoose goose' |
大雁
dà yàn
'large goose' (also used for other types of goose)
原鹅 (原鵝)
yuán é
'original goose' |
개리
gaeri
'gaeri' |
Anser fabalis
|
Bean goose
Eastern bean goose
Oie des moissons
Saatgans
Гуменник |
ヒシクイ
(菱喰)
hishi-kui
'water-caltrop eater' |
ヌマタロウ
(沼太郎)
numa-tarō
'swamp fellow' (Taro is an archetypal boy's name)
オオガリ
(大雁)
ō-gari
'large (wild) goose' |
豆雁
dòu-yàn
'bean goose'
|
豆雁
dòu-yàn
'bean goose' |
大雁
dà yàn
'large goose' (also used for other types of goose)
普通大雁
pǔtōng dà yàn
'common large goose'
东方豆雁 (東方豆雁)
dōngfāng dòu-yàn
'Eastern bean goose'
鸿 (鴻)
hóng
'swan-goose'
麦鹅 (麥鵝)
mài é
'grain goose'
西伯利亚豆雁 (西伯利亞豆雁)
Xībólìyà dòu-yàn
'Siberian bean goose' |
큰기러기
keun-gireogi
'large goose' |
Anser anser
|
Greylag goose
Oie cendrée
Graugans
Серый гусь |
ハイイロガン
(灰色雁)
hai-iro gan
'grey-coloured goose' |
|
灰雁
huī yàn
'grey goose'
|
灰雁
huī yàn
'grey goose' |
红嘴雁 (鴻嘴雁)
hóng-zuǐ yàn
'red-billed goose'
灰腰雁
huī-yāo yàn
'grey-rumped goose'
大雁
dà yàn
'large goose' (also used for other types of goose)
黄嘴灰鹅 (灰嘴灰雁)
huáng-zuǐ huī é
'yellow-billed grey goose'
沙鹅 (沙鵝)
shā-é
'sand goose'
沙雁
shā-yàn
'sand goose' |
회색기러기
hoe-saek-gireogi
'grey-coloured goose' |
Anser albifrons
|
Greater white-fronted goose
White-fronted goose
Oie rieuse
Bläßgans
Белолобый гусь |
マガン
(真雁)
ma-gan
'true goose' |
カリ
(雁)
kari
'(wild) goose' |
白额雁 (白額雁)
bái-é yàn
'white-fronted goose'
|
白額雁
bái-é yàn
'white-fronted goose' |
白额鹅 (白額鵝)
bái-é é
'white-fronted goose'
草鹅 (草鵝)
cǎo-é
'grass goose'
大雁
dà-yàn
'large goose' (also used for other types of goose) |
쇠기러기
soe-gireogi
'small goose' |
Anser erythropus
|
Lesser white-fronted goose
Oie naine
Zwerggans
Пискулька |
カリガネ
(雁, 雁金, 雁が音)
kari-gane
'goose cry' (written 'goose', 'goose metal', or 'goose sound') |
|
小白额雁 (小白額雁)
xiǎo bái-é yàn
'small white-fronted goose' |
小白額雁
xiǎo bái-é yàn
'small white-fronted goose' |
|
흰이마기러기
huin-ima-gireogi
'white-forehead goose' |
Anser indicus
|
Bar-headed goose
Oie à tête barrée
Streifengans
Горный гусь |
インドガン
(インド雁)
Indo gan
'Indian goose' |
|
斑头雁 (班頭雁)
bān-tóu yàn
'stripe-headed goose' |
|
白头雁 (白頭雁)
bái-tóu yàn
'white-headed goose' |
줄기러기
jul-gireogi
'lined goose' |
Anser canagicus
Anser canagica
|
Emperor goose
Oie empereur
Kaisergans
Белошей |
ミカドガン
(帝雁)
mikado gan
'emperor (=mikado) goose' |
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帝雁
dì-yàn
'Emperor goose' (4)
皇雁
huáng-yàn
'Emperor goose' (5) |
|
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Anser caerulescens
|
Snow goose
Oie des neiges
Schneegans
Белый гусь |
ハクガン
(白雁)
haku-gan
'white goose' |
|
雪雁
xuě-yàn
'snow goose' |
|
考雁
kǎo yàn
'kao goose'
白雁
bái yàn
'white goose' |
흰기러기
huin-gireogi
'white goose' |
| Branta |
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Branta canadensis
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Canada goose
Bernache du Canada
Kanadagans
Канадская казарка |
カナダガン
(カナダ雁)
Kanada gan
'Canada goose' |
Subspecies is:
シジュウカラガン
(四十雀雁)
shijūkara gan
'great-tit goose'
 Note
ホオジロガン
(頬白雁)
hō-jiro gan
'white-cheeked goose'
カナダガモ
(カナダ鴨)
Kanada gamo
'Canada duck' |
加拿大黑雁
Jiānádà hēi-yàn
'Canada black goose' (4)
黑额黑雁 (黑額黑雁)
hēi-é hēi-yàn
'black forehead black goose' (5) |
加拿大雁
Jiānádà yàn
'Canada goose' |
|
캐나다기러기
Kaenada-gireogi
'Canada goose'
Note |
Branta bernicla
|
Brent goose
or
Brant
Bernache cravant
Ringelgans
Казарка черная |
コクガン
(黒雁)
koku-gan
'black goose' |
|
黑雁
hēi-yàn
'black goose' |
黑雁
hēi-yàn
'black goose' |
|
흑기러기
heuk-gireogi
'black goose' |
| Cygnus |
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Cygnus olor
|
Mute swan
Cygne tuberculé
Höckerschwan
Лебедь-шипун |
コブハクチョウ
(瘤白鳥)
kobu haku-chō
'lump white-bird' |
|
疣鼻天鹅 (疣鼻天鵝)
yóu-bí tiān-é
'mole-nosed sky-goose' (2, 3, 4, 5)
瘤鼻天鹅 (瘤鼻天鵝)
liú-bí tiān-é
'lump-nosed sky-goose' (1)
or
赤嘴天鹅 (赤嘴天鵝)
chì-zuǐ tiān-é
'red-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1)
|
疣鼻天鵝
yóu-bí tiān-é
'mole-nosed sky-goose'
瘤鵠
liú hú
'lump swan' (former official name) |
哑声天鹅 (啞聲天鵝)
yǎ-shēng tiān-é
'mute-voiced sky-goose' (Alternative in 6) |
혹고니
hok-goni
'lump swan' |
Cygnus colombianus
|
Tundra swan
Whistling swan
Bewick's swan
Cygne siffleur
Zwergschwan
Малый лебедь,
Тундровый лебедь,
Американский лебедь |
コハクチョウ
(小白鳥)
ko haku-chō
'small white-bird' |
ハクチョウ
(白鳥)
haku-chō
'white-bird'
(former official name)
アメリカコハクチョウ
(アメリカ小白鳥)
Amerika ko haku-chō
'American small white-bird' |
小天鹅 (小天鵝)
xiǎo tiān-é
'small sky-goose' (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
or
短嘴天鹅 (短嘴天鵝)
duǎn-zuǐ tiān-é
'short-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1)
Note |
小天鵝
xiǎo tiān-é
'small sky-goose'
鵠
hú
'swan' (former official name) |
啸声天鹅 (嘯聲天鵝)
xiào-shēng tiān-é
'whistle-voiced sky-goose' (Alternative in 6)
苔原天鹅 (苔原天鵝)
táiyuán tiān-é
'tundra sky-goose' (7) |
고니
goni
'swan' |
Cygnus cygnus
|
Whooper swan
Cygne chanteur
Singschwan
Лебедь-кликун |
オオハクチョウ
(大白鳥)
ō haku-chō
'large white-bird' |
|
大天鹅 (大天鵝)
dà tiān-é
'large sky-goose'
or
黄嘴天鹅 (黃嘴天鵝)
huáng-zuǐ tiān-é
'yellow-billed sky-goose' (Alternative in 1)
|
黃嘴天鵝
huáng-zuǐ tiān-é
'yellow-billed sky-goose' |
咳声天鹅 (咳聲天鵝)
ké-shēng tiān-é
'cough-voiced sky-goose'
鹄 (鵠)
hú
'swan' |
큰고니
keun-goni
'large swan' |
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| TADORNINAE |
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
JAPANESE |
CHINESE |
|
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Tadorna |
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Tadorna tadorna
|
Common shelduck
Shelduck
Tadorne de Belon
Brandgans
Пеганка,
Атайка |
ツクシガモ
(筑紫鴨)
tsukushi-gamo
'Kyushu duck' |
|
翘鼻麻鸭 (翹鼻麻鴨)
qiáo-bí má-yā
'warped nose hemp duck'
|
花鳧
huā fú
'flowery wild-duck' |
冠鸭 (冠鴨)
guàn yā
'crested duck' |
혹부리오리
hok-buri-ori
'lump-billed duck' |
Tadorna ferruginea
|
Ruddy shelduck
Tadorne casarca
Rostgans
Огарь,
Красная утка |
アカツクシガモ
(赤筑紫鴨)
aka tsukushi-gamo
'red Kyushu duck' |
|
赤麻鸭 (赤麻鴨)
chì má-yā
'red hemp duck'
|
瀆鳧
dú fú
'ditch wild-duck' |
黄鸭 (黃鴨)
huáng yā
'yellow duck'
红鸭 (鴻鴨)
hóng yā
'red duck' |
황오리
hwang-ori
'yellow duck' |
| Tadorna cristata |
Crested shelduck
Tadorne de Corée
Schopfkasarka
Хохлатая пеганка |
カンムリツクシガモ
(冠筑紫鴨)
kanmuri tsukushi-gamo
'crested Kyushu duck' |
|
冠麻鸭 (冠麻鴨)
guàn má-yā
'crested hemp duck' (1, 3, 4)
冠头麻鸭 (冠頭麻鴨)
guàn-tóu má-yā
'crest-headed hemp duck' (5) |
|
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원앙사촌
won-ang-sachon
'mandarin-duck cousin' |
|
