Bird Guide

Fulvous Whistling Duck vs Lesser Whistling Duck

Fulvous Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Large756 gWetland

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). The wingspan ranges from 85 to 93 cm. It is a long-legged duck, mainly different shades of brown; head, neck and breast are particularly rich buff (fulvous) with a darker back. 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Chloe Lynn · CC BY 4.0
Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)

Lesser Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Large520 gWetland

This chestnut brown duck is confusable only with the fulvous whistling duck (D. bicolor) but has chestnut upper-tail coverts unlike the creamy white in the latter. The ring around the eye is orange to yellow. When flying straight, their head is held below the level of the body as in other Dendrocygna species. The crown appears dark and the sexes are alike in plumage. They fly slowly but with rapid wing-flapping and usually produce a repetitive wheezy seasick call as they circle overhead. They are very nocturnal and often rest during the day.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Ujjal Kishor De · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: white_cheeked_barbet · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Fulvous Whistling Duck and Lesser Whistling Duck.