Wandering Whistling-Duck
Scientific Name: Dendrocygna arcuata
Size: 54 to 60 cm
What does it look like?
The Wandering Whistling-Duck plumage is generally dark, brown on the back, rear of neck and top of head, and chestnut-brown on the belly, with conspicuous white feathers along the side of the body and base of tail.
Where is it found?
Found throughout northern Australia, from around Carnarvon, Western Australia, to southern New South Wales. Breeding range more confined to north and north-east.
What are its habitats & habits?
Unlike the closely-related and superficially similar Plumed Whistling-Duck, the Wandering Whistling-Duck readily swims in water and obtains some food, mainly aquatic plants and seeds, by diving below the surface of the water, but is most often sighted on mudflats at the margins of waterways. Outside of breeding times it can form large flocks.
This species features in my book Australia’s Birdwatching Megaspots
