Wandering Whistling Duck

Wandering Whistling Duck

Scientific Name: Dendrocygna arcuata

Malay Name: Belibis Merantau

Chinese Name: 斑胸树鸭

Range: Found from the Philippines, Indonesia to Australia.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: arcuata, pygmaea, australis.

Local Subspecies: arcuata

Size: 40-45 cm

Identification: Looks similar to Lesser Whistling Duck but slightly bigger, has pronounced blackish line down centre of nape and hindneck, richer chestnut flanks with very prominent thick black and white markings, black spotted breasts and white vent.         

Similar looking species: Lesser Whistling Duck

Habitat: Ponds within gardens and parks.

Behaviour/Ecology: Gregarious. Flock with the more common and similar looking Lesser Whistling Ducks. Hybrids of the two species have been documented in Singapore.

Local Status: Former introduced resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Location: Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay.

Wandering Whistling Duck at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Wandering Whistling Duck at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Wandering Whistling Duck at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Wandering Whistling Duck at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Wandering Whistling Duck at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Wandering Whistling Duck at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Wandering Whistling Duck at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Wandering Whistling Duck at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Wandering Whistling Duck. Photo credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Wandering Whistling-Duck)

References:

BirdLife International. (2018). Dendrocygna arcuata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679753A131906867.en. Accessed on 25 December 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Wandering Whistling Duck. Retrieved on April 15, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/wandering-whistling-duck.

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