Wandering Whistling Duck — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

To the right in the photo above is a Wandering Whistling Duck. On the left is the Plumed Whistling Duck. You often see them together and whilst related they look very different.

The sexes look similar and they are often seen in large flocks. When in those large groups of hundreds or thousands their combined high pitched whistling call can be deafening.

In flight their wings also make a whistling sound. Here you can see the chestnut colour of the covert feathers above the dark brown flight feathers.

The like deep tropical lagoons, swamps, wetlands and sewerage farms. I usually see them in the Tablelands Swamps.

The breeding cycle depends on rain but is usually between January and July. As you can see from above they lay quite a few eggs, usually between 6-15.

They feed by diving deep for aquatic grasses, waterlily bulbs, submerged plants, seeds and insects.

They nest in long grass and spend a fair bit of time in there. That means often you have to photograph them through grass. I took the photo above as my wife and I approached them to show her that they were already watching us even though she could not see them.

I also told here that if we just sat and spent time there they would soon relax again. Which they did :)