White Faced Whistling Duck ( Dendrocygna viduata )
- Sent by Rodrigo Girardi Santiago - 06/12/2006
- 23.991 visits
- 644 downloads
- 0 comments
41,5 cm. Medium size. The feet are webbed. Has a distinctive white mask. The chest and the belly are streaked with cinnamon. The wings are broad and black. The female is slightly larger than the male.
Distribution:
Tropical South America and Africa.
Habitat:
Wetlands, lakes, ponds, mostly in shallow water.
Diet:
It eats buds, seeds, insect larvae, crustaceans and worms. Food is filtered by its specialized beak
Reproduction:
Builds a nest on the ground in a hidden place. 8 to 14 eggs are laid and incubated by the couple for 27 to 30 days. Male and female take care of the brood.
Natural history:
Its vocalization is very typical. It is more active at twilight or at night, resting during the day. Often flies long distances from the place it sleeps to the place it eats. Are commonly seen even in artificial lakes in big cities. Are gregarious for most of the year. May migrate seasonaly. When flying at night flocks may confuse the wet pavement with water surface and land on roads.
