White-faced Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna viduata
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<birdfyi-bird slug="dendrocygna-viduata"></birdfyi-bird>About
A tall elegantly built whistling-duck with a conspicuous white face, chestnut body, barred flanks, and a distinctive three-note whistle. Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Forms large noisy flocks at freshwater sites. Highly gregarious; roosts and nests communally.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 42.9 cm | 16.9 in |
| Weight | 689.5 g | 24.32 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Distinctive white face and throat contrasting with black hindneck. Breast chestnut; sides and flanks barred black and white. Back brown. Long gray legs. Sexes identical; upright whistling-duck posture.
Habitat & Range
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rice paddies, flooded fields, and slow-moving rivers in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. Tolerates a wide range of modified wetlands. Nomadic, following water availability.
Geographic Range
Found in floodplains and wetlands of the Llanos in Venezuela and eastern Colombia. Sedentary and locally nomadic in wet savannas.
Diet & Feeding
Grazes subarctic tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal salt marshes eating saltmarsh grasses and eelgrass.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Incubation: 26-30 days. Fledging: 60-83 days.
Clutch Size
4-16
Sound
Song
A clear, 3-syllable whistle 'wee-wee-WEE' — the origin of 'whistling-duck'. Given in noisy flocks during flight. Also gives a softer 'de-de-de' contact call on water.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes (Waterfowl) |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans) |
| Genus | Dendrocygna |
| Species | Dendrocygna viduata |
Distribution
White-faced Whistling-duck has been recorded in 9 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the White-faced Whistling-duck eat?
Where does the White-faced Whistling-duck live?
Is the White-faced Whistling-duck endangered?
How does the White-faced Whistling-duck nest?
What does the White-faced Whistling-duck sound like?
How big is the White-faced Whistling-duck?
What order and family does the White-faced Whistling-duck belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Anatidae family