Anatidae
ガンカモ科
gan-kamo ka

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are only tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

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 = 'wildduck-bird') or アシガモ ashi-gamo (葦鴨 = 'reed-wildduck') may be seen. Note that domestic ducks are known in Japanese by the completely different name of あひる ahiru, written 家鴨 'domestic duck' or 鶩. The written form 家鴨 is from Chinese, where 鴨 yā is used for both wild and domesticated ducks.

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 are known as リュウキュウガモ ryūkyū-gamo (琉球鴨) 'Ryukyu wildduck', reflecting the fact that Japan's only dendrocynid is found in the Ryukyu islands in the far south.

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.

The swans are known in Japanese as ハクチョウ haku-chō, written 白鳥 'white bird'. Haku-chō is the on-reading (Chinese-style reading) of the characters 白鳥, suggesting that the name was borrowed from Chinese, but in fact the Chinese do not use the name 白鳥 'white bird' for the swans. It is more likely that haku-chō represents a 'fancy reading' of the native term シラトリ shira-tori (meaning 'white bird' and also written 白鳥). Another name is スワン suwan from the English. For the curious, black swans are officially known as コクチョウ (黒鳥) koku-chō or 'black birds'.

Cultural:

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 wild-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 wild-duck's coming, and it's brought the shallots with it!' (i.e., ready for cooking).

Species names

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DENDROCYGNINAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Dendrocygna               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean 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 wildduck'   栗树鸭 (栗樹鴨) lì shù-yā 'chestnut tree wildduck' (树鸭) 樹鴨 shù-yā 'tree-duck' 尼鸭 (尼鴨) ní yā 'nun duck' (Guangxi) (FS) 啸鸭 (嘯鴨) xiào yā 'whistling duck' (FS)

ANSERINAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Anser               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Anser cygnoides Swan goose Chinese goose Oie cygnoïde Schwanengans Сухонос, Гусь-сухонос サカツラガン (酒面雁) saka-tsura gan 'wine-faced wildgoose' (refers to reddish-coloured face)   鸿雁 (鴻雁) hóng-yàn 'swangoose wildgoose' (鸿雁) 鴻雁 hóng-yàn 'swangoose wildgoose' 大雁 (大雁) dà-yàn 'large wildgoose' (also used for other types of goose) (FS) 原鹅 (原鵝) yuán é 'original goose' (dict) (FS) 洪雁 (洪雁) hóng-yàn 'flood wildgoose' (FS) 冠雁 (冠雁) guān-yàn 'crested wildgoose' (FS) 天鹅式大雁 (天鵝式大雁) tiān-é-shì dà-yàn 'sky-goose (=swan)-style wildgoose' (Gee) (FS) 随鹅 (隨鵝) suí é 'following goose' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) 黑嘴鹅 (黑嘴鵝) hēi-zuǐ yàn 'black-billed wildgoose' (FS) 沙鹅 (沙鵝) shā yàn 'sand wildgoose' (FS) 草鹅 (草鵝) cǎo yàn 'grass wildgoose' (FS) 奇鹅 (奇鵝) qí-é 'strange goose' (L. Dongting, Hubei/Hunan) (FS) 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 wildgoose' 豆雁 (豆雁) dòu-yàn 'bean wildgoose' (豆雁) 豆雁 dòu-yàn 'bean wildgoose' 大雁 (大雁) dà yàn 'large wildgoose' (general name, also used for other types of goose) (FS) 普通大雁 (普通大雁) pǔtōng dà yàn 'common large wildgoose' (FS) 东方豆雁 (東方豆雁) dōngfāng dòu-yàn 'Eastern bean wildgoose' (FS) 鸿 (鴻) hóng 'swangoose' (dict) (FS) 麦鹅 (麥鵝) mài é 'grain goose' (Xi'an) (FS) 西伯利亚豆雁 (西伯利亞豆雁) xībólìyà dòu-yàn 'Siberian bean wildgoose' (Gee) (FS) 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 wildgoose'   灰雁 (灰雁) huī yàn 'grey wildgoose' (灰雁) 灰雁 huī yàn 'grey wildgoose' 红嘴雁 (鴻嘴雁) hóng-zuǐ yàn 'red-billed wildgoose' (FS) 灰腰雁 (灰腰雁) huī-yāo yàn 'grey-rumped wildgoose' (FS) 大雁 (大雁) dà yàn 'large wildgoose' (northern general name, also used for other types of goose) (FS) 黄嘴灰鹅 (灰嘴灰鵝) huáng-zuǐ huī é 'yellow-billed grey goose' (Fujian) (FS) 沙鹅 (沙鵝) shā-é 'sand goose' (Inner Mongolia) (FS) 沙雁 (沙雁) shā-yàn 'sand wildgoose' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) 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 wildgoose' カリ (雁) kari 'wildgoose' 白额雁 (白額雁) bái-é yàn 'white-foreheaded wildgoose' (白额雁) 白額雁 bái-é yàn 'white-foreheaded wildgoose' 白额鹅 (白額鵝) bái-é é 'white-foreheaded goose' 草鹅 (草鵝) cǎo-é 'grass goose' 大雁 (大雁) dà-yàn 'large wildgoose' (general name, also used for other types of goose) (FS) 花斑 (花斑) huā-bān 'flowery-stripe' (FS) 明斑 (明斑) míng-bān 'bright-stripe' (Honghu, Hubei) (FS) 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 'wildgoose cry' (written 'goose', 'goose metal', or 'goose sound')   小白额雁 (小白額雁) xiǎo bái-é yàn 'small white-foreheaded wildgoose' (小白额雁) 小白額雁 xiǎo bái-é yàn 'small white-foreheaded wildgoose'   흰이마기러기 huin-ima-gireogi 'white-foreheaded goose' Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Anser indicus Bar-headed goose Oie à tête barrée Streifengans Горный гусь インドガン (インド雁) indo gan 'Indian wildgoose'   斑头雁 (斑頭雁) bān-tóu yàn 'stripe-headed wildgoose'   白头雁 (白頭雁) bái-tóu yàn 'white-headed wildgoose' (FS) 黑纹头雁 (黑紋頭雁) hēi-wén-tóu yàn 'black-finepattern-headed wildgoose' (FS) 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) wildgoose'   帝雁 (帝雁) dì-yàn 'Emperor wildgoose' (4) 皇雁 (皇雁) huáng-yàn 'Emperor wildgoose' (5)       Anser caerulescens Snow goose Oie des neiges Schneegans Белый гусь ハクガン (白雁) haku-gan 'white wildgoose'   雪雁 (雪雁) xuě-yàn 'snow wildgoose'   考雁 (考雁) kǎo yàn 'kao wildgoose' 白雁 (白雁) bái yàn 'white wildgoose' (Hebei) (FS) 흰기러기 huin-gireogi 'white goose' Branta               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Branta canadensis Anser canadensis Canada goose Bernache du Canada Kanadagans Канадская казарка カナダガン (カナダ雁) kanada gan 'Canada wildgoose' Subspecies is: シジュウカラガン (四十雀雁) shijūkara gan 'great-tit wildgoose' Taxonomy ホオジロガン (頬白雁) hō-jiro gan 'white-cheeked wildgoose' カナダガモ (カナダ鴨) kanada gamo 'Canada wildduck' 加拿大黑雁 jiānádà hēi-yàn 'Canada black wildgoose' (4) 黑额黑雁 (黑額黑雁) hēi-é hēi-yàn 'black-foreheaded black wildgoose' (5) (加拿大雁) 加拿大雁 jiānádà yàn 'Canada wildgoose'   캐나다기러기 kaenada-gireogi 'Canada goose' Taxonomy Branta bernicla Brent goose or Brant Bernache cravant Ringelgans Казарка черная コクガン (黒雁) koku-gan 'black wildgoose'   黑雁 (黑雁) hēi-yàn 'black wildgoose' (黑雁) 黑雁 hēi-yàn 'black wildgoose'   흑기러기 heuk-gireogi 'black goose' Cygnus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean 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) (疣鼻天鹅) 疣鼻天鵝 yóu-bí tiān-é 'mole-nosed sky-goose' Taiwan former official: (瘤鹄) 瘤鵠 liú hú 'lump swan' 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) Taxonomy (小天鹅) 小天鵝 xiǎo tiān-é 'small sky-goose' Taiwan former official: (鹄) 鵠 hú 'swan' 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) 白鹅 (白鵝) bái-é 'white-goose' (FS) 食鹅 (食鵝) shí-é 'eating-goose' (southern, N. China plain) (FS) 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) (黄嘴天鹅) 黄嘴天鵝 huáng-zuǐ tiān-é 'yellow-billed sky-goose' 咳声天鹅 (咳聲天鵝) ké-shēng tiān-é 'cough-voiced sky-goose' (FS) 鹄 (鵠) hú 'swan' (ancient general name) (FS) 白鹅 (白鵝) bái-é 'white goose' (Hebei, Inner Mongolia, general name in southwest) (FS) 큰고니 keun-goni 'large swan'

TADORNINAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Tadorna               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Tadorna tadorna Common shelduck Shelduck Tadorne de Belon Brandgans Пеганка, Атайка ツクシガモ (筑紫鴨) tsukushi-gamo 'Kyushu wildduck'   翘鼻麻鸭 (翹鼻麻鴨) qiáo-bí má-yā 'warped nose hemp-duck' (花凫) 花鳧 huā fú 'flowery wildduck' 冠鸭 (冠鴨) guān yā 'crested duck' (FS) 潦鸭 (潦鴨) liáo yā ? 'slovenly duck' ? (FS) 掘穴鸭 (掘穴鴨) jué-xué yā 'dig-hole duck' (northern) (FS) 白鸭 (白鴨) bái yā 'white duck' (Dongbei, Fujian) (FS) 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 wildduck'   赤麻鸭 (赤麻鴨) chì má-yā 'red hemp-duck' (渎凫) 瀆鳧 dú fú 'ditch wildduck' 黄鸭 (黃鴨) huáng yā 'yellow duck' (FS) 黄凫 (黃鳧) huáng fú 'yellow wildduck' (northern) (FS) 红鸭 (紅鴨) hóng yā 'red duck' 红雁 (紅雁) hóng yàn 'red wildgoose' (Inner Mongolia) (FS) 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 wildduck' (extinct)   冠麻鸭 (冠麻鴨) guān má-yā 'crested hemp-duck' (1, 3, 4) 冠头麻鸭 (冠頭麻鴨) guān-tóu má-yā 'crest-headed hemp-duck' (5)     원앙사촌 won-ang-sachon 'mandarin-duck cousin'

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