The female white-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata) is a medium-sized whistling duck species found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas. The female can be distinguished from the male by its brown plumage, pale face, and lack of an eye-ring.
What is a white-faced whistling duck?
The white-faced whistling duck is a species of whistling duck found across the Americas. There are two recognized subspecies:
- Northern white-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata viduata) – Found from the southern USA through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America.
- Southern white-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata autumnalis) – Native to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil.
Some key facts about the white-faced whistling duck:
- It is a medium-sized duck, measuring 45–55 cm in length with a wingspan of 75–85 cm.
- Adult males have a bold white facial stripe, chestnut breasts and a black belly. Females are duller brown overall with a pale face.
- They inhabit wetlands across their range, including marshes, ponds, rivers and flooded fields.
- Omnivorous diet, feeding on plants, seeds, aquatic invertebrates and small fish.
- Breeding takes place during the rainy season. Nests are built on the ground near water.
- Clutch size is around 10-16 eggs which are incubated for 25-30 days.
- Both parents care for the young, which fledge at about 9 weeks old.
- Sometimes form large flocks of hundreds of birds outside of breeding season.
- Has a distinctive whistling call, hence the group name “whistling ducks”.
Overall, the white-faced whistling duck is a fairly common and widespread duck species found across much of the Americas. Both males and females have distinctive facial markings, but otherwise females have a plainer brown plumage.
Description of the female white-faced whistling duck
The female white-faced whistling duck can be identified by the following characteristics:
- Size – Medium-sized duck around 51 cm long with a wingspan of 75-85 cm.
- Plumage – Back and wings are brown. Belly is pale brown/buff. Undertail coverts are black.
- Head – Pale gray face with whitish chin and throat. No eye-ring or dark eye-line.
- Bill – Dark gray bill with pale gray edges.
- Legs and feet – Grayish legs and feet.
Overall, the female’s plumage is much duller and plainer than the male’s. The male has a bold chestnut breast, gleaming green speculum on the wing, and white facial stripes. The female lacks these ornamental features.
However, the pale grayish face is still a distinguishing feature compared to other female duck species. The lack of any eye markings further helps to identify her as a female white-faced whistling duck.
When seen together, the male’s striking plumage contrasts sharply with the female’s more cryptic brown coloration. This is likely an evolutionary adaptation to help camouflage the brooding female on the nest.
Distribution and habitat
The white-faced whistling duck has a very wide distribution across the Americas:
- Northern white-faced whistling duck – Occurs from the southern USA through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America as far south as northern Argentina.
- Southern white-faced whistling duck – Found mainly in central and southern South America including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil.
This species inhabits a variety of wetland habitats across its range including:
- Freshwater marshes
- Flooded fields and agricultural lands
- Ponds, lakes and reservoirs
- Slow moving rivers and streams
- Coastal marine wetlands like lagoons and estuaries
They are present year-round across most of their range. But some northern populations migrate southwards in the winter, and may mix with southern birds.
In Central America, they are often found in mangrove swamps during the dry season when inland waters contract.
Diet and feeding
The white-faced whistling duck is an omnivorous species, feeding on a diverse range of food items:
- Seeds and leaf shoots of aquatic plants
- Grains like rice and millet when feeding in agricultural areas
- Aquatic invertebrates like insects, shrimp, snails and worms
- Small fish
- Some terrestrial insects
They filter-feed at the water’s surface as well as diving and probing into mud to find food. Their wide bill is adapted for this varied diet.
They may feed at night as well as during the day. Feeding flights between roosting and feeding sites are commonly undertaken.
During the breeding season, adults lead their young to suitable wetland feeding habitats with plentiful invertebrates to sustain growth.
Example feeding table
Food type | Examples | Feeding methods |
---|---|---|
Aquatic plants | Duckweed, water lilies, hydrilla | Grazing at surface, filtering |
Grains | Rice, wheat, millet | Grazing in fields |
Invertebrates | Insects, worms, shrimp | Filtering, probing in mud |
Small fish | Minnows, fingerlings | Surface plunging |
Terrestrial insects | Beetles, crickets, caterpillars | Gleaning on land |
Reproduction and breeding
The breeding season of the white-faced whistling duck coincides with the rainy season across their range:
- Northern hemisphere – Typically April to September
- Southern hemisphere – October to March
Courtship displays include the males puffing out their head feathers, swimming in circles around the female, and whistling.
Nesting
Nests are simple scrapes lined with down, built on the ground close to water. Nest sites include:
- Among marsh vegetation
- Under bushes at waters edge
- On floating mats of vegetation
- On levees and banks of wetlands
Females lay a clutch of around 10-16 white eggs. Incubation lasts for 25-30 days and is performed by the female, with the male guarding and defending the nest site.
The female will leave the nest periodically to feed. Hatching is asynchronous, so some chicks may hatch up to 48 hours before others.
Parental care
The female broods and cares for the hatchlings initially. Within about 48 hours, the male joins her and the ducklings. The parents lead the young to suitable wetland feeding habitats.
For the first week, the ducklings are brooded at night and during cold periods. After 3 weeks, the female leaves the family while the male stays with the ducklings.
Fledging occurs at around 9 weeks old. The family may join larger flocks on open waters at this stage. Both parents remain with the young and defend them until they can fly strongly at 11-12 weeks.
Threats and conservation
Some key threats and conservation issues facing the white-faced whistling duck include:
- Wetland habitat loss and degradation across its range
- Disturbance of nesting sites from human activities
- Over-hunting in some regions
- Secondary poisoning from pesticides and lead shot ingestion
- Climate change impacts on wetland habitats
However, the species remains common and widespread. Their ability to use artificial as well as natural wetlands helps maintain populations.
Conservation actions include:
- Protection and restoration of wetlands across the range
- Monitoring and possible restrictions on hunting in some areas
- Raising awareness of the species and its wetland habitat needs
Overall, the white-faced whistling duck has a large and resilient population. But continued wetland conservation is needed to ensure the species remains secure.
Conclusion
In summary, the key facts about the female white-faced whistling duck include:
- Duller brown plumage compared to the male, but with distinctive pale gray face
- Omnivorous diet, feeding on aquatic plants, invertebrates and small fish
- Nests on the ground near water; lays 10-16 eggs
- Broods young for first few weeks until fledged
- Reliant on wetland habitats across the Americas
- Widespread and common, but some local threats from habitat loss
The white-faced whistling duck is adapted to make full use of its wetland environments across North, Central and South America. Careful management of these important habitats can ensure the continued survival of this unique duck species.