Fulvous whistling duck
The Fulvous whistling duck, also known as the fulvous tree duck, is a large, goose-like bird characterized by its long legs and neck. These ducks are notable for their distinctive squealing sounds when taking off and their loud, shrill whistles during flight. They inhabit tropical and subtropical freshwater environments across four continents, favoring lowland lakes and marshes surrounded by dense vegetation. Unlike many migratory duck species, Fulvous whistling ducks typically remain in their temperate habitats year-round, feeding on seeds, leaves, and aquatic invertebrates by dabbling or grazing on land.
Measuring between 17 to 21 inches in length, these ducks possess light brownish-yellow plumage with distinctive white and black streaks on their wings and back. Typically, they form lifelong pair bonds, and both parents participate in incubating the eggs, which can number up to 16 per nest. Nesting colonies are usually located near water, where the ducks clear the vegetation to create suitable sites. The young ducklings remain with their parents until the next breeding season, developing flight feathers by two to three months of age. The lifespan of a Fulvous whistling duck can reach three years in the wild, and up to 20 years in captivity.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Fulvous whistling duck
The fulvous whistling duck is a large, long-legged, long-necked, goose-like duck. It squeals when it lifts from the ground and whistles loudly and shrilly when it is flying. This duck is also known as the fulvous tree duck since it may perch in trees.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Dendrocygna
Species: Bicolor
Flocks of fulvous whistling ducks inhabit tropical and subtropical, freshwater habitats on four of the world's continents. These flocks most often live in lowland, open lakes and marshes but may occupy waterways up to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level. Their watery habitats generally are surrounded by dense vegetation. Because of the temperate climate, these ducks do not migrate.
The shallow water provides these ducks with seeds, leaves, stems, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates, or creatures without backbones. The ducks feed by dabbling, which means they tip their bodies so their tails are in the air and their heads are underwater. They fill their bills with the food they find on the bottom or the surface. They may also graze on the land or in farmer's fields.
Fulvous whistling ducks have light, brownish-yellow plumage on their heads and undersides with white and black streaks in their back and wing feathers. They are 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 centimeters) long and weigh 20 to 30 ounces (560 to 840 grams). The span of their wings is between 2 1/2 to 3 feet (75 to 90 centimeters), similar to that of other ducks of their size and weight. Their long, gray legs and large, webbed feet are suited for the ducks' water lifestyle.
One year after they are born, the young ducks form pairs that usually last as long as they live. The lifespan of these ducks is three years in the wild or 20 years in captivity. Breeding season depends on where the ducks live and when the most food is available for the young ducks. Colonies nest near the water where the ducks trample down the grass and aquatic vegetation for nesting sites. A female may lay as many as 16 eggs in her nest over a period of two weeks or more. Sometimes several ducks may lay eggs in the same nest, which results in up to 100 eggs total. It is not certain how all these are incubated. In normal situations, both male and female incubate the eggs during the one-month incubation period. The ducklings develop their flight plumage until they are two to three months old. They most often stay with their parents until the next breeding season.
Fulvous whistling ducks are known for the squealing noises they make when they begin flying and for the whistling noises they make as they are in flight and when they are feeding.
Bibliography
“Fulvous Whistling Duck.” Animalia, www.animalia.bio/fulvous-whistling-duck. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
“Fulvous Whistling-Duck.” All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fulvous‗Whistling-Duck/overview. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
“Fulvous Whistling-Duck.” Audubon, 18 Apr. 2024, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/fulvous-whistling-duck. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.