Lesser Whistling Duck

The lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna javanica), also known as the Indian whistling duck or lesser whistling teal, is a small, long-necked waterfowl species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Characterized by its pale brown body, warm chestnut underparts, and distinct orange-yellow eyering, this gregarious bird is famous for the loud, wheezy, two-note whistling sound it produces in flight.

Key Characteristics & Behavior

• Appearance: They feature a dark brown crown and nape, dark gray bill and legs, and prominent chestnut shoulders and rumps. Their chestnut rump easily distinguishes them from the larger fulvous whistling duck, which has a creamy white rump. 
• Diet & Feeding: They are primarily nocturnal feeders. Their diet consists largely of aquatic vegetation, seeds, and grains, supplemented by grass, small freshwater snails, insects, and frogs. 
• Habitat: They live in shallow, freshwater wetlands, lakes, and wet paddy fields with abundant emergent vegetation. 
• Nesting Habits: Uniquely among ducks, they are highly capable of perching on trees. They often build their nests in tree hollows or reuse abandoned nests of larger birds like herons or crows, though they also nest on the ground near water. 
• Social Structure: Highly social and gregarious, these ducks congregate in large flocks during the day. They form monogamous, life-time bonds with their partners, and both parents share the duties of incubating eggs and raising their chicks.