Fulvous Whistling-duck vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna bicolor compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fulvous Whistling-duck | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna bicolor | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.6 cm (17.6 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 733.4 g (25.87 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and sedges in Arctic tundra; large migratory goose; winter diet dominated by agricultural … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 6-16 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Fulvous Whistling-duck only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Freshwater marshes, rice paddies, flooded fields, shallow lakes, and river margins across warm tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and South Asia. Highly nomadic, following rains.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
Song & Call Comparison
Fulvous Whistling-duck
A soft, rhythmic 'ka-WHEE-00' whistle. Flocks give continuous soft whistling sounds during flight over tropical wetlands. Also gives shorter 'kee' contact notes.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Breeds across Eurasia from Iceland and western Europe to eastern Siberia; winters from Britain to the Mediterranean and South Asia.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Spotted Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Warm fulvous-buff underparts with creamy white flank stripes. Upperparts dark brown with pale buff feather edges. Dark brown stripe down back of neck. Long bluish-gray legs. Sexes identical.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Fulvous Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with warm tawny-brown body, dark brown back, creamy-white flank stripes, and a blue-grey bill. Among the most cosmopolitan of all waterfowl, occurring in North and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Highly nomadic, following seasonal rainfall.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.