Fun Facts!

They are most vocal in the morning and evening, and use different whistles for different situations!

They are sometimes called white-faced tree-ducks because they occasionally rest in trees!

In the wild, white-faced whistling ducks will sometimes congregate in very large flocks numbering well into the thousands.

White-faced whistling ducks nest on stick platforms near the ground.

The faces of ducklings are grey.

White-Faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

These birds average 17-19 inches (43-48 cm) in length and weigh between 17.7-28.9 ounces (502-820 g). Males are usually smaller than females. The name white-faced whistling duck comes from the bird’s white face and its’ characteristic three-note whistle. The bill is black, while the throat is white. The back of the head and neck are black. Legs and feet are gray. The lower neck, chest, and back are rust colored, while the sides are black and white. They are long-legged and long-necked ducks.

HABITAT

White-faced whistling ducks live in a variety of wetland areas. They prefer bodies of freshwater in open areas. They sometimes live in very small bodies of open water. These ducks live from Costa Rica southwards to northern Argentina and Uruguay. In Africa, they live south of the Sahara from Senegal to Ethiopia, and in Southern Africa as well. They also live in Madagascar.

DIET IN THE WILD

White-faced whistling ducks are primarily night feeders. The primary source of their diet is vegetation such as grass, seeds, and rice, as well as small aquatic invertebrates. They are particularly fond of seeds and fruits of water lilies. White-faced whistling ducks obtain their food by dabbling and diving.

BEHAVIOR

As most foraging activity takes place at night, the ducks tend to roost near the water during the day. Whistling ducks are more arboreal (spends time in trees) than many other species of ducks, spending part of the day perched on a branch. They are fast swimmers but only dive for food. They generally mate for life. They vocalize frequently with a distinctive high-pitched, multisyllabic whistle which sounds very un-duck like. Male and female calls differ slightly and may be a bonding mechanism.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Of the world's 162 waterfowl species, the white-faced whistling duck is one of the more numerous. There are an estimated 1 million inhabiting South and Central America and up to 2 million in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is the most abundant resident duck in Africa where it lives a semi-nomadic existence, migrating between regions in response to water levels and food availability. However, relatively recent farming practices in southern Africa appear to be changing the white-faced whistling duck's traditional migratory patterns.

LIFE SPAN

The white-faced whistling duck’s life span has not been documented in the wild; however they can live up to 20 years in captivity.