Bird of the Week Invitation: LIX
I think it’s time the ducks had a run. The Plumed Whistling Duck is one of the prettiest. I posted a close up of feathers a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a good audio of Whistling Ducks.
The Plumed Whistling-Duck is one of two whistling or tree ducks found in Australia. It is a tall, long necked duck.
Plumed Whistling-Duck is mainly found in the northern and eastern tropics of Australia, it also extends southwards to New South Wales in the east but does not come far south of the Kimberleys in the west.
During the day the Plumed Whistling-Duck congregates in large numbers with other waterfowl, on the margins of lagoons, swamps and mangrove creeks, for preening and sleeping. At night they fly out, often quite long distances, to feed on grasslands.
It had been raining quite a bit and I found a flock of ducks having a great time in a puddle in a park. They pluck grass (like a goose) and also take food from the water by dabbling from the surface.
In the breeding season, the Plumed Whistling-Duck leaves the water and nests on the grassy plains.
The Plumed Whistling-Duck is monogamous, and pair-bonds are probably life-long. Both sexes share the duties of incubation, with the changeover taking place in the evening, and brood the young.
Why do Whistling Ducks whistle?
They don’t know the words
REF: https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/plumed-whistling-duck/
https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Dendrocygna-eytoni
bushboys world 
I love them! Goofily artistic. Their wings and beaks are amazing. Now I have to try to Google their whistles. Australia cannot be beat for birds and animals.. except perhaps for the rain forests.. some amazing birds.
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That is true. I had a quick look but none were good enough for me to use. Too much background noise and other birds
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I checked out all the Google sites on them as well and came to the same conclusion. Thanks for introducing these new and fascinating birds!!!!
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Most welcome Judy
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Did you look at the Xento site? https://xeno-canto.org/species/Dendrocygna-eytoni I thought a couple of these were quite good.
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They are but I can’t just grab one for the post and it’s a bit much to ask people here’s a load, pick one
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oh I used to download them all the time from Xento.
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It’s a licencing thing I think
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This one is okay to use https://xeno-canto.org/611296 is under a Creative Commons
Credit: Marc Anderson, XC611296. Accessible at http://www.xeno-canto.org/611296.
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Thanks Becky 🥰
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What a beautiful duck!
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Are rather pretty
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Those beaks even look like whistles!
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Maybe that helps
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Fabulous bird but I did groan (and laugh) at the end!
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Robert would have laughed
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He would have 😀
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What fascinating ducks. Love those plumes on their flanks.
I am familiar with the white-faced whistling duck in South Africa which also has that long neck. It is always a treat to find them.
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They are rather flash. They are the same genus
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They do have long necks!
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When you feed and nest in grasslands you would develop a long neck to see over the long grass 😁
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That’s an Aussie bird from you. Looks very colourful too. Keep them coming.
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Thanks I.J. I have a copuple of ducks I can use but I set the bar too high 🦆😂
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Those are very fancy ducks.
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Always dressed up for a day out 😀
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They’re very pretty birds. But I adore the second one – this duck conveys so much urgency!
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They are. Yes that’s the get away from the bloke with the camera run 😂
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😂
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That’s a lovely little whistle! Their feathers are feathered works of art, so interesting. Thank you for sharing, Brian. 🤗
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Most welcome Michele 🤗 I love the colours and detail on their feathers too
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Interesting-looking feathers and whistle (and they have long legs like those geese). 🙂
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They are best looking duck around here 😀
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It’s certainly a most striking duck. Some bold markings against a drabber background. Thanks too for explaining why they whistle!
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They have wearing brown down to a T. No worries, always happy to supply information where I can. I actually stole it from Why do Hummingbirds hum?
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Very pretty – I saw a different variety of this duck at a local bird sanctuary and actually heard it before it came into view
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One of the prettiest ducks here 😀
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I only came across these birds two years ago just north of Brisbane. I was captivated, by their beauty, their whistle and cheeky personality.
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There a couple of flocks that reside here most of the year
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Lucky you, they are beautiful.
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