White Faced Whistling Ducks

White-Faced Whistling Duck

A PAIR is a male/female pair of unrelated birds.

• Breeding season (rainy season in the wild)  when warmer spring temps in U.S.
• Clutch size up to 16 eggs
• Incubation period 26-28 days
• 1.3-1.4 pounds 

The White-faced duck can be found in tropical areas of Central and South America, as well as in sub-Sarahan Africa. The White-faced duck is a waterfowl, and prefers still, open bodies of freshwater such as lakes, reservoirs, marshes, and river banks. It generally avoids wooded areas, but nests in areas of dense vegetation. The nest is either over or near water and is constructed of vegetation.

As the name implies, this species has a white face, but the back of the head is black. It has a rust-colored breast and black and white barred sides. The legs and beak are both gray. The male and females are similar in color, though the males tend to be slightly smaller than the females. Most of the time White-faced ducks are powerful fliers, but they do undergo a brief molting period after the breeding season. They cannot fly while molting and are especially vulnerable to predators.

Housing Requirements: These ducks are from warm environments, and they are one of the least hardy of wild duck species. Winter shelter will be needed when keeping these birds in most areas of the United States, as they are prone to frostbite. These birds also need a significant water source to thrive. An enclosure with a three-foot-deep pond and plenty of vegetation would be ideal. Grass and soft bedding are important in raising this species. In general, they do well in captivity. 

Diet: The wild diet consists mainly of aquatic and waterside plant matter, although they do also dine on insects and aquatic invertebrates. A commercial waterfowl grain-based diet is appropriate in captivity.