White-faced Whistling Duck

Description: Sexes of the white-faced whistling duck are similar in appearance. The bill is slate-colored and the legs are gray. White forepart of head and large patch on fore-neck are diagnostic of the species, rest of head and neck black. Otherwise they are brown above with black wings, rump and tail; lower neck and chest rich rufous chestnut becoming black on center of under parts. The sides and flanks narrowly barred black and white. A high, reedy whistle, "tsree-tsree-tsreeo," quickly vocalized, is often repeated in flight.


Breeding: White-faced whistling duck prefer freshwater marshes, grassy lagoons, flooded rice fields, mud flats and occasionally brackish water. Nests are built of leaves on the ground in marshes and also in hollow trees. Up to nine creamy white eggs may be laid.

Migrating and Wintering: White-faced whistling duck are widespread and common in South America east of the Andes south to Uruguay and northern Argentina, and west of the Andes south to northern Peru; also in the lowlands of eastern Central America (Scott and Carbonell, 1986).

Population: Estimated to have greater than 1,000,000 individuals (Rose and Scott, 1994).

Food habits: Their methods of feeding are dabbling in the shallows while wading, up-ending, and to some extent, diving.