Wandering Whistling Duck
The Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) is a species of whistling duck. They inhabit tropical and subtropical Australia, the Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands .
Taxonomy
There are three subspecies associated with this bird, D. a. arcuata (Indonesian Wandering Whistling Duck), D. a. australis (Australian Wandering Whistling Duck), and D. a. pygmaea (New Britain Wandering Whistling Duck).
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| Wandering Whistling Duck |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/
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| Wandering Whistling Duck |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/
Description
Formerly named Tree Ducks, the Wandering Whistling Duck have their new name because of their loud whistling calls and the whistling noise their wings make during flight. They have long necks and legs and look like a cross between a goose and a duck. They have a strong head and neck with a darker crown and hindneck. The breast contains black spotting and the feathers are mostly dark brown. They range in size from 54–60 cm in height and weigh on average 750 grams. They mainly feed on grasses, waterlillies, water plants and occasionally insects and aquatic vertebrae.
