WILDFOWL IDENTIFICATION

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Whistling Ducks
There are eight species of Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna), Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Plumed Whistling Duck, Spotted Whistling Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, West Indian Whistling Duck, and the White-faced Whistling Duck, all found at WWT Slimbridge: -

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge October 2012) - pic by Nigel Key
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge October 2012) ©Nigel Key
Fulvous Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge March 2019) - pic by Nigel Key
Fulvous Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge March 2019) ©Nigel Key
Lesser Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge June 2015) - pic by Nigel Key
Lesser Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge June 2015) ©Nigel Key
Plumed Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge September 2018) - pic by Nigel Key
Plumed Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge September 2018) ©Nigel Key
Spotted Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge May 2018) - pic by Nigel Key
Spotted Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge May 2018) ©Nigel Key
Wandering Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge March 2012) - pic by Nigel Key
Wandering Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge March 2012) ©Nigel Key
 (WWT Slimbridge July 2013) - pic by Nigel Key
West Indian Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge July 2013) ©Nigel Key
White-Faced Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge August 2009) - pic by Nigel Key
White-Faced Whistling Duck (WWT Slimbridge August 2009) ©Nigel Key





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WHISTLING DUCK IDENTIFICATION

To aid identification we shall compare various significant parts of the Whistling Duck:-

The Head, Bill & Eyes
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key Fulvous Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
Fulvous Whistling Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key Plumed Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key
Lesser Whistling Duck
Plumed Whistling Duck
Spotted Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key Wandering Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key
Spotted Whistling Duck
Wandering Whistling Duck
West Indian Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key White-Faced Whistling Duck (Head, Bill & Eyes) - pic by Nigel Key
West Indian Whistling Duck
White-Faced Whistling Duck



The Breast & Body
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key Fulvous Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
Fulvous Whistling Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key Plumed Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key
Lesser Whistling Duck
Plumed Whistling Duck
Spotted Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key Wandering Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key
Spotted Whistling Duck
Wandering Whistling Duck
West Indian Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key White-Faced Whistling Duck (Breast & Body) - pic by Nigel Key
West Indian Whistling Duck
White-Faced Whistling Duck



The Tail
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key Fulvous Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
Fulvous Whistling Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key Plumed Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key
Lesser Whistling Duck
Plumed Whistling Duck
Spotted Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key Wandering Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key
Spotted Whistling Duck
Wandering Whistling Duck
West Indian Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key White-Faced Whistling Duck (Tail) - pic by Nigel Key
West Indian Whistling Duck
White-Faced Whistling Duck
Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key
Click for larger image


OVERVIEW

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck.
A long Red bill, long pale Grey head and longish legs. The belly and tail are Black, with the body plumage, back of the neck and cap a rich Chestnut Brown. The face and upper neck are Grey, and they sport a thin but distinct White eye-ring.

Fulvous Whistling Duck.
A dark crown which extends to the nape, pale buff face and neck, the wings and mantle are dark brown with black edged feathers, the breast and belly are rich fulvous, the creamy-buff flank feathers form a border between the sides and the back, tail-coverts are creamy white and tail is black, the eyes are brown, and the beak, legs, and feet are blue-grey.

Lesser Whistling Duck.
A dark crown and forehead, a Buff colour head, neck and breast with dark eyes, a Yellow eye ring and a Grey bill. The underparts are Chestnut with Dark Grey back and wings. The flanks have Cream streaks and the feet and legs are Blue/Grey.

Plumed Whistling Duck.
A Brown crown and nape with lighter cheeks, a Pink bill with dark markings and Yellow/Orange eyes. The breast is Chestnut Brown with dark barring, the back and tail is Brown, the vent under-tail and belly are White. There are distinctive elongated plumes which are a light Tan to White extending from the flanks. The legs and feet are Pink.

Spotted Whistling Duck.
A Grey head with a dark crown and hind neck, Dark-Brown eyes, a Pink-Grey beak, a Chestnut-Brown breast with small White spots, Brown flanks with large White spots, underparts are Whitish. Upperparts and tail are Dark-Brown, wings are Dark-Brown, and legs are Reddish-Grey.

Wandering Whistling Duck.
A Dark Brown crown and nape, a Buff colour head with lighter chin and a Black bill merging with the crown. The breast is Light Brown with Black spotting, the under-parts are chestnut Brown with a White undertail and White extending from the rump into the elongated flank plumes. The back is Dark Brown with Chestnut Brown scalloping. The legs and feet are Dark Grey.

West Indian Whistling Duck.
A Black bill, a pale fore-neck speckled with Brown, light Brown face and dark Brown crown. The back, breast and wings are dark Brown with White edging and the under-parts are White with heavy Black markings. The feet and long legs are Green/Black.

White-Faced Whistling Duck.
A dark Grey bill, a White face and crown with Black on the back of the head and down the nape and upper neck. The lower neck and breast are Chestnut Brown, the back is barred Black and the flanks have fine White barring. The rump, tail under-parts, and wing under-parts are Black. The legs and feet are light Grey.

Now that we have identified the Whistling Ducks, where can we find them at WWT Slimbridge?

They can be found in the following Zones: -

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck. - Screamers Zone.

Fulvous Whistling Duck. - Asia Zone.

Lesser Whistling Duck. - Geese Of The World Zone.

Plumed Whistling Duck. - Australia Zone.

Spotted Whistling Duck. - Geese Of The World Zone.

Wandering Whistling Duck. - Australia Zone.

West Indian Whistling Duck. - South America Zone.

White Faced Whistling Duck. - Flamingo Lagoon.


Did You Know?
The Whistling duck is also sometimes called the Tree Duck.
Whistling ducks are named after their noisy Whistling call.
Whistling ducks can often be found perching in trees.


Related Links:-


Crane Identification

Dabbling Duck Identification

Diving Duck Identification

Flamingo Identification

Geese Identification

Sea Duck Identification

Shelduck Identification

Shoveler Identification

Swan Identification

Whistling Duck Identification




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