Wandering Whistling-Duck

Wandering Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna arcuata race australis) are mainly tropical and subtropical ducks. They are migratory and nomadic and as the name suggests may wander even to latitudes well south of tropical including Victoria where they have been recorded in the past. Any birds recorded in Victorian would be vagrants and as such, a valued tick for Victorian twitchers(1). They are also found in the Philippines, Indonesia, PNG and the Pacific Islands. 

Wandering Whistling-Ducks look plump out of the water as they are large, moderately heavily built and richly coloured birds with modest plumes compared to the closely related and smaller Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni). They are diving ducks which whistle, particularly when in flight. Moderately common in small numbers in Northern NSW, I have photographed them on a number of occasions at the Byron Wetland. 

Please click on photos to enlarge.

The following photos are of one pair taken in one session. 

I waited, hoping they would fly for a flight shot or two, however in the end they turned and swam away, revealing the dark feathers down the back of the head and neck.

Flight shots from another session.

This last flight photo in the sequence reminded me of silo art as the bird flew past a metal tank.

Note (1) Birdata has nine Victorian Wandering Whistling-Duck records.

Seven were for a few birds recorded between 2000 and 2002 at Lake Guyatt in Sale – it looks like a few birds took up temporary residence in the Sale area for a few years. One record was lodged as an incidental report for three birds seen at Corringle near Marlo in 2011 and the other incidental record, also for 2011, was lodged for a bird (presence only recorded) seen near Nerrin Nerrin in Western Victoria.

PS: Since first publishing this post I have been advised eBird has Wandering Whistling-Duck records for 2019 – Dandenong Valley Wetlands (Sept.) and Lake Colac (December).

The most southerly Birdata record for Wandering Whistling-Ducks in Australia is in Tasmania where up to five birds were sighted at Lake Dulverton (Oatlands) between September and November 2011. Interesting that a small band of tropical-sub tropical ducks have wandered south to Tassie crossing Bass Strait in their travels. What drives journeys such as this I wonder?