White-faced whistling-duck
Scientific name: Dendrocygna viduata
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Distinctive white face and neck contrasting sharply with chestnut body plumage. Lean, long-necked duck with slender build; sexes similar in plumage but males slightly larger.
Size and weight
Adults typically 43–48 cm long and weigh 340–480 g; males average 10–15% heavier than females.
Habitat
Favours shallow freshwater wetlands, marshes, and open water with scattered vegetation. Found from sea level to moderate elevations in tropical and subtropical regions.
Distribution
Resident and nomadic across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and South America; concentrates in wetland complexes with persistent shallow water.
Diet
Primarily grazes on grasses and aquatic vegetation; also dabbles for seeds and small invertebrates, with preference shifting to tender shoots during wet season.
Behaviour
Crepuscular and nocturnal; highly vocal with distinctive whistling calls. Highly gregarious, forming flocks of dozens to hundreds; often feeds on land at dusk and dawn.
Hunting tips
Look for grazing trails and droppings along marsh margins and grassy banks near water. Approach feeding birds during twilight from downwind; use water channels and reed beds for concealment. Birds flush noisily in tight flocks; position yourself along flyways between roosting and feeding areas.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 13 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.