Whistling White Faced Duck
Dendrocygna viduata
Photographed at Ardastra Zoo, Nassau Bahama Dec 2012
The white-faced whistling-duck is a
long-legged duck with a conspicuous white face and neck patch that sits in
sharp contrast to its otherwise black and brown plumage. The rest of the head
and neck is black along with the wings, rump and tail, and the breast is a rich
chestnut colour. The sides of the body are lightly barred black and white, and
the bill and legs are slate grey. The male and female white-faced
whistling-duck are similar in appearance, although the female is typically less
bold in colour, but the juvenile has a greyish, white or ash-grey face, throat
and under parts, and the chestnut on the breast is less extensively and duller.
The whistling ducks are so named for their
high-pitched whistling calls, but are also known as tree duck’s due to their
habit of perching on branches. These birds have broad wings, and so are highly
maneuverable in flight, although not particularly fast.
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