Meet Our Animals

The Brandywine Zoo proves that great things do come in small packages. The Zoo features animals from the tropical and temperate areas of North and South America, Asia and Africa. Our animals range from more common species to the highly endangered. All enjoy natural settings and welcome your visit to the zoo. Some animals may be off exhibit during cold weather.

Dendrocygna viduata

White-faced Whistling Duck

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands, including lakes, swamps, marshes, large rivers, river deltas, flood-plains, reservoirs, sewage farms (Africa), estuaries, and is commonly encountered feeding in rice fields.

Geographic Region & Range

Isolated populations in North and South America, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa

Diet

Herbivore. Grass, aquatic seeds, rice, pondweeds, tubers, aquatic mollusks, crustaceans, and invertebrates. Mazuri waterfowl pellets, seeds, corn, fruits, shredded lettuce.

Physical Description

• Adult white-faced whistling ducks have a black and white head and a reddish chestnut brown breast.
• The legs and beak are both gray.
• Juveniles are similar in color to adults, but have a much less contrasted head pattern. They typically have a gray, white or ash-gray colored face, throat, and bottom.

Lifespan

Natural Habitat: 10-12 years
Under Human Care: up to 15 years

Threats

Status

Least Concern

What are AZA Zoos doing for

White-faced Whistling Duck

Whistling Ducks are managed by a SSP Program.

Fun Facts

White-faced whistling ducks are named for their high-pitched whistling calls. These are noisy birds with a clear three-note whistling call.

Most of the time, white-faced ducks are powerful fliers, but they do undergo a brief molting period after the breeding season. They cannot fly while molting and are especially vulnerable to predators.

Male ducks are called “drakes”.

White-faced whistling ducks are referred to as dabbling ducks because they feed by “tipping up” – submerging their heads under water with their tails in the air.

 

White-faced Whistling Duck

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