Fulvous Whistling-Ducks get their name from their reddish-yellow coloring. They are large birds that have long necks and huge legs. Their whole body is mostly reddish, with the exception of their blue-gray bill and legs.
They also have white tails and dark brown wings. When in flight, their white bottom appears like a “U,” a striking contrast to the dark brown underside of the wings.
- Dendrocygna bicolor
- Length: 18 -21 in (45 – 53 cm)
- Weight: 25.6 oz (726 g)
- Wingspan: 36 in (91 cm)
Range
Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are year-round residents of Florida, the coasts of Mexico, and the Caribbean. They also spend the breeding season in some southern US states.
Habitat And Diet
You can find Fulvous Whistling-Ducks in places with shallow waters, like marshes and ponds. In winter, it’s possible to see them around mangrove swamps and coastal lagoons.
Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are group feeders. During the day, they often dip their head and neck in shallow water for aquatic plants, rice, and seeds. They can even dive into deep water in search of food. At night, they move with large flocks of other whistling ducks.
Fulvous Whistling-Duck Calls:
Nests
Nests of Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are made with plant stems and leaves. They are found on the ground, on water, or in tree cavities. Females lay between twelve to fourteen eggs per nest, but other females can also lay their eggs in someone else’s nest!
Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about a month. Once they hatch, they can leave the nest after a day, but it takes around nine weeks for them to learn how to fly.
Fun Fact:
Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are impatient and lay their eggs in their nest even when it’s not completely built. Sometimes, this results in losing some of the eggs.
