West Indian Whistling-duck vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna arborea comparé à Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | West Indian Whistling-duck | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Dendrocygna arborea | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 51,3 cm (20.2 in) | 37,2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 1030,0 g (36.33 oz) | 779,5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Eats grasses, sedges, and grains; migratory goose foraging in Arctic tundra in summer; overwinters on … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-16 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
West Indian Whistling-duck only
Wandering Whistling-duck only
Aucun(e)
West Indian Whistling-duck
Freshwater lakes, mangrove swamps, palm savannas, and forested wetlands in the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Nests in palm crowns and hollow trees. Highly dependent on Caribbean wet forests and freshwater lagoons.
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.
Song & Call Comparison
West Indian Whistling-duck
A loud, 3-syllable whistle 'whee-whee-whee'. The NT conservation status reflects population pressures. Less commonly heard than its more abundant whistling-duck relatives.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
West Indian Whistling-duck
Found in grassy wetlands and floodplains of Madagascar. Non-migratory and endemic to the island's eastern marshes.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Statut de conservation
West Indian Whistling-duck
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
West Indian Whistling-duck
Dark brown upperparts; head and neck dark with pale sides. Flanks black with bold white spots. Breast dark brown; belly blackish with white flank streaks. Long dark legs. Largest Dendrocygna. …
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.
About These Birds
West Indian Whistling-duck
A large dark whistling-duck with brown and black plumage, a pale face, and chestnut underparts with dark streaks. Endemic to the Caribbean. The largest native duck in the West Indies; listed as Vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss. Roosts communally in palms and forest trees.
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.