[22], Several arthropod parasites have been recorded on this duck, including chewing mites of the families Philopteridae and Menoponidae,[23][24] feather mites and skin mites. There is no reason to think at this time that this bird species is facing immediate danger. Juvenile fulvous whistling ducks are very like young lesser whistling ducks, but the crown colour is still a distinction. Most fulvous whistling ducks depart their breeding range in the United States during September and October to wint… Whistling-ducks are not actually puddle ducks, but tree ducks. Incubation Period: 24-28 days Rich caramel-colored duck; long legs and neck give it a goose-like appearance. They are very vocal while feeding and in flight. The fulvous whistling duck has a very large range extending across four continents. The female is slightly smaller and duller than the male. Breeding Season: Since the range of the Fulvous Whistling Duck is so large, the breeding season varies. The lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna javanica), also known as Indian whistling duck or lesser whistling teal, is a species of whistling duck that breeds in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. In North America, fulvous whistling ducks can be found breeding in southern California, southwestern Arizona, central and eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast of Louisiana to central Mexico and locally in Florida. [35], Outside North America it is subject to hunting for food or because of its liking for rice, and persecution means that it is now rare in Madagascar. [20] The calls of males and females show differences in structure and an acoustic analysis on 59 captive birds demonstrated 100% accuracy in sexing when compared with molecular methods. Title Fulvous Whistling-Duck Range - CWHR B065 [ds973] Publication date 2016-02-0100:00:00 Presentation formats digital map FGDC geospatial presentation format vector digital data Other citation details These are the same layers as appear in the CWHR System software. [20] Eggs are laid at roughly 24- to 36-hour intervals, starting before the nest is complete, resulting in some losses from the clutch. Dendrocygna bicolor. It has a long red bill, long head and longish legs, pale gray head and mostly gray-brown plumage. Fulvous whistling ducks have long legs and necks, giving them a distinct profile when flying. [1] This may be an underestimate since regional assessments suggest 1 million birds in the Americas, 1.1 million in Africa and at least 20,000 in South Asia for a grand total of 2.12 million ducks around the world. Both sexes look alike. In South America and Africa, juvenile white-faced whistling ducks are separable from fulvous by their dark crowns, barred flanks and chestnut breasts. Habitat. Range. Whistling-ducks are a distinctive group of about 8 species of brightly colored, oddly proportioned waterfowl. A survey of eighteen species which had colonised the area in recent decades found that most were wetland species that had used irrigated farmland as "stepping stones" across the arid country separating the peninsula from the breeding main range. The black-bellied whistling-duck sports a flashy white patch on the wing that its relative lacks. Their head, neck, and chest are a buffy cinnamon color and their bill is gray. They are very noisy birds with a clear whistling call. African birds move southwards in the southern summer t… [19], These are noisy birds with a clear whistling kee-wee-ooo call given on the ground or in flight, frequently heard at night. The fulvous whistling duck has a very large range extending across four continents. It has plumage that is mainly reddish brown, long legs and a long grey bill, and shows a distinctive white band across its black tail in flight. It flies at low altitude with slow wingbeats and trailing feet, in loose flocks rather than tight formation. Downloads. Favoured plants include water snowflake, aquatic ragweeds, bourgou millet, shama grass, Cape blue water lily, waxy-leaf nightshade, beakrush, flatsedge and polygonums. Fink, D., T. Auer, A. Johnston, M. Strimas-Mackey, O. Robinson, S. Ligocki, W. Hochachka, C. Wood, I. Davies, M. Iliff, L. Seitz. Average Size Whistling-ducks have an average length of 18-19 inches and an average weight of 1 3/4 pounds. eBird data from 2005-2020. Foraging is by picking plant items while walking or swimming, by upending, or occasionally by diving to a depth of up to 1 m (3.3 ft). Juvenile comb ducks are bulkier than whistling ducks and have a dark cap to the head. Sometimes called tree-ducks, the whistling-ducks compose a unique group of eight species of worldwide distribution, mostly in the tropics. Length ranges from 47 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in), body mass from 652 to 1,020 g (1.437 to 2.249 lb) and wingspan ranges from 76 to 94 cm (30 to 37 in). Rice is normally a small part of the diet, and a survey in Cuban rice fields found that the plants taken were mainly weeds growing with the crop. Non-Endemic. [34] In Africa, it bred on the Cape Peninsula between 1940 and the 1960s. Learn more. It undertakes seasonal movementsin response to the availability of water and food. However, the status of the two whistling duck species featured in the research is dubious since they are popular ornamental species, so their origin is unclear. Juvenile has contrasting dark wings and light belly. Current and historic (ca. Head, neck, chest and underside are a tawny cinnamon brown color with a darker back, dark wings, bill and legs, and a white band on upper tail coverts. The fulvous whistling-duck is of medium size with a long neck and legs. Distribution Range Size CI (sq.km) 711. It is sometimes regarded as a pest of rice cultivation, and is also shot for food in parts of its range. It is sometimes regarded as a pest of rice cultivation, and is also shot for food in parts of its range. It is also found in Central and South America and in Africa and Asia. The nest, built from plant material and unlined, is placed among dense vegetation or in a tree hole. [25], Breeding coincides with the availability of water. Occurrence. [19] Birds are sexually mature after one year, and the maximum known age is 6.5 years. [2] They were an early split from the main duck lineage,[3] and were predominant in the Late Miocene before the subsequent extensive radiation of more modern forms in the Pliocene and later. It can also be found in Central and South America and Africa and Asia. Wetland. [16] Wandering birds can turn up far beyond the normal range, sometimes staying to nest, as in Morocco, Peru and Hawaii. They are nocturnal feeders that during the day may be found in flocks around lakes and wet paddy fields. In South America and South Africa, the main nesting period is December–February, in Nigeria it is July–December, and in North America mid-May–August. In North America, the species is most common in Mexico, but also breeds in California, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The large numbers and huge breeding range mean that this duck is classified by the IUCN as being of Least Concern. 1944) breeding range of the Fulvous Whistling-Duck in California; historic status along lower Colorado River (not mapped) is uncertain. In non-breeding season, this species often mixes with other types of whistling duck. [15], It is a long-legged duck, mainly different shades of brown; head, neck and breast are particularly rich buff (fulvous) with a darker back. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Non-breeding season. Distribution Range Size (sq.km) 134075. Infosheet. Usually found in flocks; prefers marshes, marshy ponds, and flooded rice fields. [19] The clutch is usually around ten eggs, but other females sometimes lay into the nest, so 20 or more may be found on occasion. The fulvous whistling-duck can be found from southern California to southwestern Arizona, and from central and eastern Texas and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, south to Mexico and in southern Florida. Ducklings may also eat a few insects. The fulvous whistling duck is a long-legged duck that is golden brown with a darker back. Listen +3 more audio recordings. [14], The fulvous whistling duck is 45–53 cm (18–21 in) long; the male weighs 748–1,050 g (26.4–37.0 oz), and the female averages marginally lighter at 712–1,000 g (25.1–35.3 oz). [16] The mantle is more darker shade of brown with buff-tipped feathers, the flight feathers and tail are dark brown, and a dark brown to black stripe runs through the center of the crown down the back of the neck to the base of the mantle. Before taking off in alarm, they often shake their head sideways. It has no recognised subspecies, although the birds in northern Mexico and the southern US have in the past been assigned to D. b. helva,[5] described as having paler and brighter underparts and a lighter crown than D. b. It has whitish stripes on its flanks, a long grey bill and grey legs. The eggs hatch in about 24–29 days,[5] The downy ducklings are grey, with paler upperparts,[19] and a white band on the neck,[14] and weigh 22–38 g (0.78–1.34 oz) within a day of hatching. Lifespan: Estimated to be 20 years Diet: In the wild: Grass seeds, fruits and vegetation. It is found in a broad belt across sub-Saharan Africa and down the east of the continent to South Africa and Madagascar. The whistling ducks, Dendrocygna, are a distinctive group of eight bird species within the duck, goose and swan family, Anatidae, which are characterised by a hump-backed, long-necked appearance and the whistled flight calls that give them their English name. Identification. This map depicts the range boundary, defined as the areas where the species is estimated to occur at a rate of 5% or more for at least one week within each season. Internal helminth parasites include roundworms, tapeworms and flukes. The nest, 19–26 cm (7.5–10.2 in) across, is made from plant leaves and stems and has little or no soft lining. [20] It does not often perch in trees, unlike other whistling ducks. [5], The fulvous whistling duck is found in lowland marshes and swamps in open, rice fields, flat country, and it avoids wooded areas. Like all ducklings, they are precocial and leave the nest after a day or so, but the parents protect them until they fledge around nine weeks later. To cite this page: SoIB 2020. Dendrocygna bicolor. [16] Observations of the bird outside the nesting season, especially since the 1950s have been recorded in temperate regions as far north as the Mississippi River Basin, eastern Great Lakes region, and along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts right up to southern Canada. Another clue readily seen in flight is the wing color. Breeding season. [9][b] The whistling ducks were moved to their current genus, Dendrocygna, by British ornithologist William John Swainson in recognition of their differences from other ducks. POWERED BY MERLIN. Fulvous whistling-ducks were obtained from the Ev-erglades Agricultural Area in southern Florida south and east of Lake Okeechobee (Palm Beach County) . [5] The wingspan ranges from 85 to 93 cm. Body size much smaller than Mallard. Often found feeding in rice fields. They are very agile on land, standing erect and walking without the waddle so characteristic of other ducks. [19] They are noisy and display their aggression towards other individuals by throwing back their heads. Migratory Status. [5] In India, the breeding season is from June to October but peaking in July and August. [5] There is a complete wing moult after breeding, and birds then seek the cover of dense wetland vegetation while they are flightless. Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, named for the two syllable whistling “kit-tee” sound they make, are medium sized ducks with a long neck and legs; they are clearly smaller than the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. [36], A species of bird in the family Anatidae, widespread in tropical wetlands, Scientific names are given in accordance with strict chronological priority, so Gmelin's name could not be used since it had previously allocated to another species. It is found in a broad belt across sub-Saharan Africa and down the east of the continent to South Africa and Madagascar. [17][18] All plumages are fairly similar, but the female is slightly smaller and duller-plumaged than the male. Numbers and range have declined dramatically. Resident. [12] "Fulvous" means reddish-yellow, and is derived from the Latin equivalent fulvus. The belly and tail are black, and the body plumage, back of the neck and cap are a rich chestnut brown. Ivory-edged side and flank feathers form a striking border between the sides and back. The fulvous whistling duck feeds in wetlands by day or night on seeds and other parts of plants. As you would expect, black-bellied whistling-ducks have striking black bellies, while fulvous whistling-ducks have fulvous (tawny) bellies. They are whitish and on average measure 53.4 mm × 40.7 mm (2.10 in × 1.60 in) and weigh 50.4 g (1.78 oz). In a survey in Florida, all 30 ducks tested carried at least two helminth species; none had blood parasites. In flight, the wings are brown above and black below, with no white markings, and a white crescent on the rump contrasts with the black tail. [20] A series of invasions from South America and reaching the eastern US commenced around 1948, fueled by rice cultivation, and breeding was recorded in Cuba in 1964,[19] and Florida in 1965. 2020. eBird Status and Trends, Data Version: 2019; Released: 2020. [26] Fulvous whistling ducks show lifelong monogamy; the courtship display is limited to some mutual head-dipping before mating and a short dance after copulation in which the birds raise their bodies side by side while treading water. The Fulvous Whistling-Duck is a mix of rich caramel-brown and black, a long-legged and long-necked creature found in warm freshwater marshes across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Map. The male and female look alike with a tawny brown head, chest and belly and darker brown wings and back. [10] The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek dendron, "tree", and Latin cygnus, "swan",[11] and bicolor is Latin for "two-coloured". Body feathers may be moulted throughout the year; each feather is replaced only once annually. Nov 30 - … The fulvous whistling duck or fulvous tree duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) is a species of whistling duck that breeds across the world's tropical regions in much of Mexico and South America, the West Indies, the southern United States, sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Some Florida birds still winter in Cuba. They are distinctive for their long-legged, long-necked, rather chunky appearance. The downy grey ducklings leave the nest within a day or so of hatching, but the parents continue to protect them until they fledge around nine weeks later. This duck usually breeds over water in tall grasses or forbs, especially in rice fields (Stevenson & Anderson Its breeding range early in this century is thought to have been restricted to Mexico, Texas, and California (Bent 1925 in Johnsgard 1975), but it now breeds (or has bred) in a number of states, including Florida. [4] The fulvous whistling duck forms a superspecies with the wandering whistling duck. s Present address: Department of Acquisition and Planning, St. John s Rive r Water Management District, Highway 100W, Palatka, Florida 32178. Clutch Size: 12-15 eggs. [6], The duck was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789 and given the name Anas fulva but the name was "preoccupied," or already used, by Friedrich Christian Meuschen in 1787 for another species. Habitat Specialization. May 10 - Aug 17. However, in a study in Louisiana, 25% of the diet of incubating females consisted of cereal. in dense vegetation and close to water,[5][16][18] but sometimes in tree holes. Estimated for 2019. [16] Quarrelling birds also have a harsh repeated kee. Learn more. It breeds in lowland South America from northern Argentina to Colombia and then up to the southern US and the West Indies. In India, the use of tree holes, and even the old nests of raptors or crows, is much more common than elsewhere. [13] Old and regional names include large whistling teal,[5] brown tree duck, Mexican duck, pichiguila, squealer and Spanish cavalier. The Fulvous Whistling-Duck is native to many countries throughout the world. [20], The fulvous whistling duck has a very large range extending across four continents. See Interpreting Species Pages for a detailed explanation. It breeds in lowland South America from northern Argentina to Colombia and then up to the southern US and the West Indies. It is not normally a mountain species, breeding in Venezuela, for example, only up 300 m (980 ft),[18] but the single Peruvian breeding record was at 4,080 m (13,390 ft). State of India’s Birds factsheet: Fulvous Whistling Duck. [7][a] This led to the next available name proposed by French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1816 from a Paraguayan specimen as Anas bicolor. These birds consume a diet rich in moist-soil and aquatic plant seeds; such as rice seeds and aquatic invertebrates. The black-bellied whistling duck is a mid-sized waterfowl species. [5], This species is usually found in small groups, but substantial flocks can form at favoured sites. Fulvous Whistling-Duck. Its preferred habitat consists of wetlands with plentiful vegetation, including shallow lakes and paddy fields. Are distinctive for their long-legged, long-necked, rather chunky appearance and food or night on seeds and parts... 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