Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna javanica
Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 520 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Dendrocygna
- Species javanica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 520 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Whistling Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Lesser Whistling Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Pakistan to se China and Greater Sundas.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 520 g, with a wing length of about 19.4 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Whistling Duck?
The Lesser Whistling Duck is a large bird that weighs around 520 g.
Where does the Lesser Whistling Duck live?
The Lesser Whistling Duck is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Pakistan to se China and Greater Sundas, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lesser Whistling Duck belong to?
The Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Lesser Whistling Duck eat?
The Lesser Whistling Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Lesser Whistling Duck migrate?
The Lesser Whistling Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Lesser Whistling Duck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Lesser Whistling Duck make?
4 real field recordings of the Lesser Whistling Duck — including its song, call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lesser Whistling Duck's range?
The Lesser Whistling Duck has a mapped global range of about 7.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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