Birds
White-faced Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna viduata
Flying in a large, noisy flock with a bright white face flashing against dark plumage, a white-faced whistling duck belongs to one of the rare duck species found naturally on both sides of the Atlantic.
Overview
The white-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata, is a Least Concern waterfowl species found across wetlands and flooded grassland in both South America and sub-Saharan Africa. Its bright white face, highly social flocking behaviour, and distinctive whistling call make it one of the most recognizable ducks found on either continent.
A duck with a transatlantic range
Very few duck species occur naturally on both sides of the Atlantic, but the white-faced whistling duck thrives in suitable wetland habitat across South America and Africa alike, a distribution that has long interested researchers studying waterfowl biogeography.
Status
Least Concern, remaining abundant and widespread across suitable wetland and flooded grassland habitat on both continents where it occurs.
White-faced Whistling Duck: common questions
Why is the white-faced whistling duck found on two continents?
It is one of the few duck species native to both South America and sub-Saharan Africa, a distribution pattern shared by very few waterfowl species worldwide.
Why is it called a whistling duck?
It produces a loud, musical whistling call frequently given both while swimming and in flight, a feature shared across the whistling duck group it belongs to.
Does the white-faced whistling duck feed at night?
Yes, it feeds readily after dark in addition to daytime activity, more so than many other duck species.
How social is the white-faced whistling duck?
Highly social, forming large, noisy flocks that feed, rest, and fly together throughout the year rather than staying in small groups or pairs.