Fulvous Whistling Duck
Photo: JeffreyGammon · CC BY 4.0

Ducks, Swans, and Geese

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

LCLeast Concern
Family
Ducks, Swans, and Geese (Anatidae)
Order
Anseriformes

Overview

The fulvous whistling duck or fulvous tree duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) is a species of whistling duck that breeds across the world's tropical regions in much of Mexico and South America, the West Indies, the southern United States, sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It has plumage that is mainly reddish brown, long legs and a long grey bill, and shows a distinctive white band across its black tail in flight. Like other members of its ancient lineage, it has a whistling call which is given in flight or on the ground. Its preferred habitat consists of wetlands with plentiful vegetation, including shallow lakes and paddy fields.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Eastern Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia; disjunctly southern USA to Argentina.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.