“The Whistling ducks belong to the subfamily Dendrocygninae. They are tropical ducks that possess long legs and necks, unlike the typical compact duck proportions; they sometimes may be mistaken for small geese.
These birds are named due to their unique shrill whistling calls, which can be heard for long distances; this makes them to be often confused for other birds and animals”. These birds are not true ducks.
Description
Whistling ducks are found both in tropics and sub-tropics. The whistling ducks possess long necks and legs, and are very gregarious; they fly in large flocks to and from night-time roosts.
Both the males and female have the same plumage, and all have a hunched appearance and display black underwings during flight; they also exhibit same behaviours -including mutual screening in some species.
Whistling ducks are sociable but aggressive. That make whirling wing sounds and give out sibilant cries when flying
Whistling ducks fly with slow wingbeats and legs trailing. They often perch on posts or in trees and walk readily with an upright stance. Although several species nest in hollow trees, ground sites are more often used. The males help in nest building and in rearing the young; in some species they also share in incubation.
They are also called tree ducks
Species Of Whistling Ducks
There are 8 species of whistling ducks, namely:
Black bellied whistling ducks
Fulvous whistling ducks
Plumed whistling ducks
Wandering whistling ducks
Spotted whistling ducks
White faced whistling ducks
West Indian whistling ducks
Lesser whistling duck
Gallary
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