Anatini

Anatini is a tribe within the subfamily Anatinae of the family Anatidae, comprising many of the dabbling ducks. The exact membership of Anatini has varied among authorities, reflecting ongoing revisions to dabbling-duck taxonomy. In older classifications, the group included a broad range of species in the genus Anas, but more recent treatments often split Anas into several genera such as Mareca and Spatula, with Marmaronetta sometimes placed within or outside Anatini depending on the authority. As a result, the circumscription of Anatini is not uniform across sources.

Members of Anatini are dabbling ducks, meaning they feed mainly at the water surface or by tipping up rather than by diving. They typically inhabit shallow freshwater wetlands such as lakes, ponds, marshes, and floodplains, though some species venture into brackish or coastal habitats. Plumage is often sexually dimorphic, with males and females displaying distinct breeding colors, and the birds are generally medium-sized with broad, rounded heads and relatively long bills compared with diving ducks.

Distribution and behavior vary by species, but Anatini ducks are found across much of the world, including Eurasia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. They are usually migratory or partially migratory, moving in response to seasonal changes in water availability and temperature. Reproductive strategies commonly involve ground nests concealed in vegetation near water, with a brood parasitism risk low compared with some other waterfowl groups.

Systematics within Anatinae continue to evolve with molecular studies, and the rank and membership of Anatini reflect these ongoing debates about relationships and generic boundaries among dabbling ducks.