Dendrocygna eytoni
The Plumed Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna eytoni, is a striking and highly social waterfowl species native to northern and eastern Australia, distinguished by its unique upright posture and prominent flank plumes. Averaging 42-60 cm (16.5-23.5 in) in length and weighing 0.8-1.5 kg (1.8-3.3 lbs), it exhibits a warm rufous-brown plumage across its body, with a paler buff face and throat, finely barred flanks, and dark brown crown and hindneck. Its most distinctive features are the long, straw-colo...
Primarily inhabiting tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands near freshwater wetlands, including swamps, billabongs, and floodplains. They are typically found at low elevations, preferring flat, open landscapes.
Primarily herbivorous, their diet consists mainly of grasses, sedges, and the seeds of various plants, often grazed directly from the ground. They also consume aquatic vegetation and, occasionally, small invertebrates encountered while foraging.
Plumed Whistling Ducks are highly gregarious birds, often forming large flocks that can number in the thousands outside the breeding season, roosting communally during the day and becoming active towards dusk. Their foraging strategy involves extensive grazing on land, often walking considerable ...
The Plumed Whistling Duck is endemic to Australia, with its primary distribution across the tropical and subtropical northern and eastern parts of the continent. Its core breeding range extends from the Kimberley region of Western Australia, across the Top End of the Northern Territory, throughou...
Least Concern
- The Plumed Whistling Duck is often seen grazing in open fields, earning it the nickname 'Grass Whistling Duck' due to its goose-like terrestrial feeding habits. - Unlike most ducks that swim extensively, this species spends a significant amount of its time walking and standing on land, showcasi...