Fulvous Whistling Duck / Fulvous Tree Duck [Dendrocygna Bicolor]

In this video, we learn about the fulvous whistling duck.

QUICK FACTS
• Lifespan: 11 years (max-wild); 20 years (max-captivity)
• Size: 18–21 in
• Weight: 25.1 –37.0 oz
• Family: Anatidae

The fulvous whistling duck is a species of duck belonging to the whistling duck subfamily, also known as the tree ducks.

Description
It is named for its fulvous, or reddish-brown plumage. It has a dark brown back and wings with some crescent-shaped markings. There is some wispy white feathering on the flanks and a white V-shaped band across the short, black tail. It has a long, gray bill and long, chunky, blue-gray legs. Sexes are alike but males are slightly heavier.

Vocalizations: Call and song
Whistling ducks are named for their distinctive whistling calls.

Distribution and range
They are found in tropical regions across the globe. Their vast range includes the Southern United States, Mexico, the West Indies, South and Central America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.

Habitat
They inhabit wetlands, marshes, ponds, shallow lakes, and paddy fields.

Diet and feeding habits
Their diet comprises seeds, bulbs, grasses, and other plant foods, supplemented with worms, insects, snails, and other invertebrates (particularly females and young) during the breeding season. In some parts, they are regarded crop pests of rice and other grains.

Nesting and breeding
Fulvous whistling ducks nest on the ground amidst dense vegetation close to water. In some regions, they use tree holes or the discarded nests of other birds.

The nest is made of leaves, stems, and other plant materials. The clutch comprises around 10 eggs and the incubation period lasts roughly 26 days. The precocial nestlings are able to leave the nest within a day of hatching but remain dependent on the parents for food and protection for about two months.

Status and conservation
Despite the extremely large range, the population is declining due to hunting, persecution, and pesticide poisoning. They are, however, evaluated as “least concern” by the IUCN.

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