Wandering Whistling Duck

Overview

The wandering whistling duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) is a species of whistling duck characterised by loud whistling calls and the whistling noise its wings make during flight. Formerly classified as tree ducks, this bird is currently categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Long necks and legs giving the appearance of a cross between a goose and a duck.
• Mostly dark brown plumage with a strong head and neck featuring a darker crown and hindneck.
• Black spotting on the breast.
• Ranges in size from 54–60 cm in height and weighs on average 750 grams.

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical regions including Australia, the Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Pacific Islands. The species lives in deep lagoons, flooded grasslands, or dams, enjoying the water and rarely leaving the shore.

Diet

Mainly feeds on grasses, waterlilies, and water plants. It occasionally consumes insects and aquatic vertebrae, and is capable of swimming and diving with ease to access these food sources.

Did you know?

The Bininj people of western Arnhem Land refer to the bird as djilikuybi and hunt it for food. Its name is also used for an Aboriginal outstation in Kakadu National Park, known as Djirrbiyuk in the Kundjeyhmi dialect.