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
Geographic Region & Range
Diet
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
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.