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2

Wandering Whistling-Duck

(Dendrocygna arcuata)
Alternate name(s): "Diving Whistling-Duck", "Tree-duck", "Water Whistling-Duck",
"Whistling Tree Duck", "Whistling Duck*", "Wandering Tree Duck"
Aboriginal name(s): "chipala*"

Size: 55-60 cm
Weight: 0.75-1.0 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 Wandering Whistling-Duck at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "australis"

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, August 2022]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, August 2022]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a pair of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Wetlands, Moggill, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a pair of Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2015]

Lateral view of two Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2014]

Lateral/near-dorsal view of a pair of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2013]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of an adult Wandering Whistling-Duck
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Close-up lateral view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2014]

Dorsal view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Near-dorsal view of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of Wandering Whistling-Ducks
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2014]

Small group of Wandering Whistling-Ducks (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2018]

"Nope, not one of ours..." (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, November 2018]

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

Comparison of a Wandering Whistling-Duck with a male Hardhead (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, November 2018]

Comparison between Pacific Black Ducks, right, and a Wandering Whistling-Duck, left (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2014]

Comparison of a Wandering Whistling-Duck with a male Green Pygmy-Goose in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, October 2018]

Frontal view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck banking to land (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CA, NT, August 2017]

Lateral view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck at take-off (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2015]

Lateral view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CA, NT, August 2017]

Lateral view of Whistling-Ducks touching down
[Gordonbrook Dam, near Kingaroy, QLD, June 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Wandering Whistling-Duck in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CA, NT, August 2017]

Dorsal view of a Wandering Whistling-Ducks in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CA, NT, August 2017]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Nomadic Elementary unit: Flock

Wandering Whistling-Ducks are usually seen by us in smaller units than Plumed Whistling-Ducks

Food, Diet

Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Wandering Whistling-Ducks are vegetarian. They feed on underwater plants.

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.

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