Wandering Whistling-Ducks.
Photo: A Bridger © OzBirds
Distribution map of Dendrocygna arcuata
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Wandering Whistling-Duck
Scientific name: Dendrocygna arcuata
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Water birds
What does it look like?
Description
The Wandering Whistling-Duck is a large duck with rich red-brown plumage overall, with a paler face, front of neck and upper breast. There is a dark stripe on the crown of head, nape and back of neck. The bill and legs are dark. There are elongated flank plumes, which are off-white with chestnut edges. In flight, the dark underwings, cinnamon and chestnut underbody, white undertail and trailing dark legs are seen. This species is also known as the Whistling Tree-Duck, Water Whistling-Duck and the Red Whistler.
Similar species
The Plumed Whistling-Duck, Dendrocygna eytoni, is the other species of whistling-duck found in Australia, and is distinguished by its very prominent flank plumes. The Wandering Whistling-Duck has a lower, more curved posture both swimming and standing than the Plumed Whistling-Duck.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The Wandering Whistling-Duck is found in northern and eastern Australia, from the Kimberley region, across the north of Australia, to south-eastern New South Wales. It is vagrant to the south-east and the south-west of the country. This species is also distributed through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and the Pacific Islands.
Habitat
The Wandering Whistling-Duck prefers deep vegetated lagoons and swamps, flooded grasslands, sewerage farms, grain stubbles, pastures, irrigated lands and ricefields. It prefers deeper waters where aquatic plants and insects are plentiful.
Seasonal movements
The most obvious movement is the dispersal of flocks when there is rain from dry season refuges beside permanent water to ephemeral inland breeding swamps and coastal sites.What does it do?
Feeding
The Wandering Whistling-Duck feeds almost entirely on aquatic vegetation and seeds, but also on young grass, the bulbs of rushes and other herbage, insects and other small aquatic animals. Wandering Whistling-Ducks forage in tight flocks, with the birds in front diving, and those behind flying over them.
Breeding
The Wandering Whistling-Duck breeds in the northern Wet Season. The nest is a scrape in the ground out of reach of rising floodwaters, and is hidden in tall grass or shrubbery and lined with grass. Wandering Whistling Ducks are monogamous, and pair-bonds are most likely life-long. Not much is known about the incubation of the eggs and brooding of the young.Living with us
Living with humans
Wandering Whistling-Ducks are often found in grain-growing areas where there are permanent artificial waterbodies. Their preferred floodplain systems may potentially be threatened by future agricultural, pastoral or urban development.
References
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (eds.), 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 1. Part B. Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.
Morecombe M. 1986 The Great Australian Birdfinder. Lansdowne, Australia.