White-faced whistling duck

Dendrocygna viduata

The white-faced whistling duck is a whistling duck that breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and much of South America. This species is gregarious, and at favoured sites, the flocks of a thousand or more birds arriving at dawn are an impressive sight. As the name implies, these are noisy birds with a clear three-note whistling call.
Love a duck! Dendrocygna viduata,Geotagged,South Africa,Spring,White-faced Whistling Duck,water birds

Appearance

The white-faced whistling duck has a long grey bill, a long head, and longish legs. It has a black neck and head, and a distinctive white face that gives it its name, though the amount of white color visible has regional variations among the species. For example, the white-faced whistling ducks with more black coloration are commonly found in western Africa where rainfall supersedes the dry season. The back and wings are dark brown to black, and the underparts are black with a fine white barring on the flanks. The neck is chestnut. Males and females have similar plumage. Juveniles are similar in color to adults but have a much less contrasted head pattern.
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) Suiriri cariblanco (Dendrocygna viduata) Dendrocygna viduata,France,Geotagged,White-faced Whistling Duck,Winter

Distribution

The white-faced whistling duck has a peculiar disjunctive distribution, occurring in Africa and South America. It has been suggested that they may have been transported to new locations worldwide by humans.
White-faced Whisling Ducks A brace in a lake - posing Dendrocygna viduata,Hato Pinero,Los Llanos,White-faced Whistling Duck

Status

The white-faced whistling duck is one of the species to which the "Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds" applies.
White-faced Whistling Ducks, Ivoloina park, Madagascar Floating around in the artificial lake of Ivoloina park. The large water plants are "Elephant ears": https://www.jungledragon.com/image/87052/typhonodorum_lindleyanum_-_back_side_andasibe_madagascar.html Africa,Dendrocygna viduata,Ivoloina park,Madagascar,Madagascar 2019,White-faced Whistling Duck,World

Behavior

This is an abundant species. It is largely resident, apart from local movements which can be 100 km or more.
White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata I wonder what this subsaharian duck thinks of the icey ponds of Belgium in the middle of February here at the Planckendael zoo. I think he is adapting quite well though! Belgium,Dendrocygna viduata,Geotagged,White-faced Whistling Duck,Winter

Habitat

The habitat is still freshwater lakes or reservoirs, with plentiful vegetation, where this duck feeds on seeds and other plant food.
Dendrocygna viduata Rwanda, Akagera National Park Dendrocygna viduata,Geotagged,Rwanda,Spring,White-faced Whistling Duck

Reproduction

The nest site is a depression in the ground or in reed beds. The clutch is 6 to 12 eggs which are incubated by both sexes. The eggs hatch after 26 to 28 days. Both sexes attend the ducklings and usually keep them hidden in reeds. The chicks have dark down above and yellow down below. They fledge after two months.

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