Whistling-duck

The whistling ducks or tree ducks are a subfamily, Dendrocygninae of the duck, goose and swan family of birds, Anatidae. In other taxonomical approaches, they are either considered a separate family "Dendrocygnidae", or a tribe "Dendrocygnini" in the goose subfamily Anserinae (e.g. Terres & NAS, 1991).

It contains only one genus, Dendrocygna, containing eight living species, and one known from hitherto undescribed subfossils from Aitutaki, Cook Islands (Steadman, 2006). These species have a worldwide distribution through the tropics and subtropics. These ducks have, as their name implies, distinctive whistling calls.

The whistling ducks have long legs and necks, and are very gregarious, flying to and from night-time roosts in large flocks. Both sexes have the same plumage, and all have a hunched appearance and black underwings in flight.

Species

 * West Indian Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna arborea
 * Wandering Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna arcuata
 * Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
 * Fulvous Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
 * Plumed Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna eytoni
 * Spotted Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna guttata
 * Lesser Whistling Duck, or Indian Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna javanica
 * White-faced Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna viduata
 * White-backed Duck, Thalassornis leuconotus