Wandering Whistling Ducks

Wandering Whistling Ducks

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

• Breeding season March-April
• Clutch Size 9-18 eggs
• Incubation period 25-30 days
• 1.6-1.7 pounds

Wandering Whistling Ducks are sturdy and strong-looking waterfowl, and seem like a cross between a goose and duck. They have a tall stature as well as a long neck and long legs, giving them a very upright appearance. And they do make very loud whistling calls.

Wandering Whistling Ducks are attractively colored in shades of chestnut and amber. Males and females are very similar. They have large dark eyes set off prettily in a light wheaten or buff-colored face. They have black bills and feet and a dark stripe over the top of the head that extends down the backside of the neck. The front side of the neck and the breast are dramatically speckled, and feathers on their sides form an attractive white wave-like pattern.

In the wild, Wandering Whistling Ducks can be found in the Southern Pacific Ocean regions. They are mainly inhabitants of North-Eastern or tropical Australia, as well as various Pacific Islands including the Philippines and the Indonesian countries. They are also sometimes called Tree Ducks, however, they rarely inhabit trees and prefer to spend most of their in water. These birds usually seek out deep water such as lagoons or lakes, where the aquatic vegetation that makes up the bulk of their diet is plentiful. Wandering Whistling Ducks rarely leave the vicinity of the shore and swim and dive very well.

Housing Requirements: Wandering Whistling 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, Wandering Whistling Ducks do well in captivity. Some breeders have used overhead sprinklers to simulate a rainy season to help instigate the start of the breeding season.

Diet: The wild diet of the Wandering Whistling Duck 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.