The perching ducks were previously treated as a small group of ducks in the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae, grouped together on the basis of their readiness to perch high in trees. The grouping has subsequently been shown to be artificial, with the different members more closely related to various other ducks than to each other.

The species previously included, and their current subfamilial allocation, are:

• Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos: Tadorninae
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus: Tadorninae
• Blue Duck Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos: Tadorninae
• Torrent Duck Merganetta armata: Tadorninae

• Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubi: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• White-winged Wood Duck Cairina scutulata: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Wood Duck Aix sponsa: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Green Pygmy Goose Nettapus pulchellus: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandellanus: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Salvadori's Duck Salvadorina waigiuensis: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Maned Duck Chenonetta jubata: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup
• Brazilian Duck Amazonetta brasiliensis: Anatinae, dabbling duck subgroup