adult; no sexual dimorphism; upright posture (South Africa; 2008-10-21)


White-faced Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna viduata

Native Range: South America and Africa

Notes: unlike many ducks, mated pairs bond strongly for life, as evidenced for example by frequent mutual preening; nest in small groups or loose colonies on the ground or in reeds over water, with both members of a pair incubating the eggs and defending against predators; when not breeding, occurs in flocks that may contain 100 or more individuals; a non-migratory species presumably with no current genetic exchange between populations in South America and Africa; found in both freshwater wetlands and brackish marshes.

brownish back, streaked flank; rufous breast (South Africa; 2008-10-21)
a vocal species; note also its webbed feet (Zoo; 2011-11-20)

these birds actually do issue a loud whistling sound (Zoo; 2011-11-20)
posing for a portrait; blue near tip of black bill (Zoo; 2011-11-20)

mutual preening by a mated pair (Zoo; 2011-11-20)
usually found in groups; note rufous breast; black belly (Zoo; 2007-07-03)

four ducks standing in a row (South Africa; 2008-10-21)
four ducks swimming in a row(South Africa; 2008-10-21)

some flocks can be large (South Africa; 2008-10-21)
swimming right (Zoo; 2008-09-18)

swimming left (Zoo; 2008-09-18)
standing tall (Zoo; 2008-09-18)

another head portrait (South Africa; 2008-10-21)