Fulvous Whistling-Duck

The Fulvous Whistling-Duck is a long-necked, long-legged waterfowl with an overall tawny-orange (fulvous) plumage, a darker back, and pale buffy stripes along the flanks. Its upright posture, long neck, and dangling legs in flight give it a distinctive silhouette quite different from typical ducks, and its name comes from its frequently uttered whistling call.

Found in warm wetlands on several continents, including parts of the Americas, Africa, and southern Asia, this species often gathers in flocks on shallow marshes, flooded fields, and rice paddies.

Key field marks

• Overall warm tawny-orange (fulvous) body color with a darker brown back and crown
• Long neck and long legs that trail behind in flight
• Pale buffy-white stripes along the flanks
• Frequently gives a whistling call, both perched and in flight

Similar species

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck has a gray face, bright pink bill, and a solidly black belly, quite different from the uniformly tawny Fulvous Whistling-Duck, which has a dark (not pink) bill and a pale, unmarked belly.

Fulvous Whistling-Ducks inhabit freshwater marshes, shallow lakes, flooded fields, and rice paddies across a broad, disjunct range that includes parts of the southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and South Asia. They favor dense marsh vegetation for cover and shallow water for feeding, and some populations are migratory or nomadic in response to water availability.

Behavior

Highly social, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks often gather in sizeable flocks, feeding and roosting together, and are frequently active at dusk and into the night.

Voice

Gives a distinctive, high, wheezy whistling call, often rendered as a two-note 'ki-WEE-ooo,' commonly heard from flying flocks.

Feeding

Mostly seeds and aquatic plant material, including rice and other grains, along with some aquatic invertebrates.

Nesting

Nests on the ground in dense marsh vegetation or occasionally over water; clutches are often large, sometimes as a result of multiple females laying in one nest, and both parents help care for the young.