Wandering Whistling-duck vs Falkland Steamerduck
Dendrocygna arcuata compared with Tachyeres brachypterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wandering Whistling-duck | Falkland Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Tachyeres brachypterus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 49.0 cm (19.3 in) |
| Weight | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) | 3799.0 g (134.01 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 4-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Falkland Steamerduck
Exclusive to rocky coasts, sheltered coves, kelp beds, and sea inlets of the Falkland Islands. Flightless; strictly coastal. One of the few bird species entirely endemic to the Falkland Islands.
Song & Call Comparison
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Falkland Steamerduck
Similar to Magellanic Steamerduck in call quality — harsh, rattling, mechanical. Falkland Island birds' vocalizations adapted for stormy, windswept coastal habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Falkland Steamerduck
Conservation Status
Wandering Whistling-duck
Falkland Steamerduck
How to Tell Them Apart
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
Falkland Steamerduck
Flightless; males gray with white supercilium and orange bill. Breast grayish-brown; flanks with brown mottling. Females brown with white eye-ring. Yellow-olive bill. Endemic to Falkland Islands.
About These Birds
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.
Falkland Steamerduck
A large flightless steamerduck endemic to the Falkland Islands, with grey body plumage, white belly, and orange-yellow bill. Males have a rust-orange head. Highly territorial and aggressive; pairs vigorously defend coastal territories. Feeds by diving in kelp beds and rocky coastal shallows.