Whistling Ducks

There are 8 species of whistling ducks (Genus Dendrocygna).

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (D. autumnalis) is found from southern USA to northern Argentina. It has pink bill and legs, white eye ring, greyish head, brown body with black belly, and a large white wing patch.

White-faced Whistling Duck (D. viduata) is found in South America and Africa. It has black bill and legs, white face and throat, black back of neck, chestnut neck, and a large barred wing patch.

Spotted Whistling Duck (D. guttata) is found from southern Philippines to Sulawesi to New Guinea and northern Australia. It is brown with white spots on the flanks.

Captive Spotted Whistling Duck in Jurong Bird Park, Singapore ©Tan KH

West Indian Whistling Duck (D. arborea) is only found in the West Indies. It looks like the Spotted Whistling Duck, but the white spots are appears more irregularly-shaped, the bill is larger and the neck longer.

Fulvous Whistling Duck (D. bicolor) has a wide range in Central and South America, Africa and South Asia. It is light brown with a plain head, thin stripe down the back of neck, pale uppertail coverts, thin white flank plumes, and no yellow eye ring.

Lesser Whistling Duck (D. javanica) is found in Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is light brown with yellow eye ring, dark crown stripe down the back of neck, reddish uppertail coverts, little or no white flank plumes, and no black spots on the breast.

Family of 5 Lesser Whistling Ducks at Satay by the Bay, Singapore ©Danny Lau

Wandering Whistling Duck (D. arcuata) is found from the Philippines to Australia. It is light brown with black spots on the breast, dark crown stripe down the back of neck, pale uppertail coverts, thick white flank plumes, and no yellow eye ring.

Wandering Whistling Ducks at Darwin, Australia ©Tan KH

Plumed Whistling Duck (D. eytoni) is found only in Australia. It can be easily distinguished from the rest by the prominent and thick white flank plumes.

Plumed Whistling Ducks at Darwin, Australia ©Tan KH

Reference
http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/master-list-2/