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2

Plumed Whistling-Duck

(Dendrocygna eytoni)
Alternate name(s): "Plumed Tree-duck", "Gras Whistle Duck", "Eyton's Tree-duck"
Aboriginal name(s): "chipala*", "nowee"

Size: 40-60 cm
Weight: 0.6-1.4 kg

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Plumed Whistling-Duck at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, April 2018]

Frontal view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, February 2022]

Frontal view of Plumed Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Plumed Whistling-Ducks entering water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, April 2018]

Three of a flock of about 200 Plumed Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Billabong Sanctuary, Townsville, QLD, November 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, February 2022]

Lateral view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2020]

Lateral view of Plumed Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Lateral view of Plumed Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, April 2018]

Dorsal view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, February 2022]

Plumed Whistling-Ducks in brilliant sunlight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, August 2017]

Plumed Whistling-Ducks in brilliant sunlight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, August 2017]

Overview of about half of all Plumed Whistling-Ducks seen on one pond
[Rockhampton, QLD, July 2009]

Part of a small flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, January 2020]

Plumed Whistling-Ducks resting in shallow water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks on water (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Moree, NSW, April 2014]

Flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks on land (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Mixed flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks and Wandering Whistling-Ducks in a tropical flood plain, avoiding a saltwater crocodile (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Mary River, NT, August 2008]

This photo of landing Plumed Whistling-Ducks shows clearly that the plumes are attached to the body, not to the wings
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, February 2019]

Flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks taking to the air (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks in flight (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Moree, NSW, April 2014]

Plumed Whistling-Ducks in flight; here one can see clearly that the plumes grow on the body and are not part of the wings
[Kenebri, NSW, February 2009]

Flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks in flight
[Burren Junction, NSW, December 2014]

Lateral view of Plumed Whistling-Ducks in direct comparison with a Royal Spoonbill
[Rockhampton, QLD, July 2009]

Lateral view of Plumed Whistling-Ducks in direct comparison with a Spur-winged Plover and a Magpie Goose
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, February 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Plumed Whistling-Duck with an adult behind (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, February 2022]

Lateral view of a family of Plumed Whistling-Ducks; note how similar the (smaller) juveniles are to the leading adult
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Dorsal view of a juvenile Plumed Whistling-Duck with an adult behind (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, February 2022]

Pair of Plumed Whistling-Ducks guiding their two ducklings to safety
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, December 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Nomadic Elementary unit: Large flock

Even on small waters, such as a farm dam, Plumed Whistling-Ducks can appear in huge numbers, up to thousands at a time (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Near Mount Molloy, QLD, June 2015]

About half of a flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks around a farm dam (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Berida-Bullagreen Road, central western NSW, October 2020]

"Small" flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks next to a farm dam
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2018]

When a flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks alights, it can raise dust off the parched inland soil
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2018]

Small flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks above a farm dam - who can spot the odd one out?
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2018]

Overview of a small flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks - who would like to count them? Don't miss the two stragglers!
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2018]

Food, Diet

Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Plumed Whistling-Ducks are mostly vegetarian. They feed on plants on land.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

plwduck_20210102.m4a (NW NSW) Contact call (in-flight) © MD
plwduck_20210102_2.m4a (NW NSW) Contact calls (in-flight) © MD
plwduck_20201110_4.m4a (NW NSW) Contact calls © MD
plwduck_20201110_3.m4a (NW NSW) Contact calls (arrival, with Australian Wood Duck) © MD
plwduck_20201110.m4a (NW NSW) Getting nervous & departure (small flock) © MD
plwduck_20220130.m4a (NW NSW) Various (5 in-flight) © MD
plwduck_20201110_2.m4a (NW NSW) ? (small flock) © MD

More Plumed Whistling-Duck sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.