Photo: graham_winterflood / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spotted Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna guttata
Spotted Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna guttata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spotted Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna guttata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 800 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 guttata
Where it lives
Sulawesi region, northern, central Moluccas, New Guinea, northern Cape York Pen., northeastern QLD (northeastern Australia), Umboi (west of New Britain) and New Britain (southeastern Bismarck Arch.)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 800 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spotted Whistling Duck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Spotted Whistling Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Spotted Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna guttata) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Sulawesi region, n, c Moluccas, New Guinea, n Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia), Umboi (w of New Britain) and New Britain (se Bismarck Arch.).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 800 g, with a wing length of about 20.7 cm and a tail of around 5.9 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 926,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spotted Whistling Duck?
The Spotted Whistling Duck is a large bird that weighs around 800 g.
Where does the Spotted Whistling Duck live?
The Spotted Whistling Duck is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Sulawesi region, n, c Moluccas, New Guinea, n Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia), Umboi (w of New Britain) and New Britain (se Bismarck Arch.), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Spotted Whistling Duck belong to?
The Spotted Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna guttata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Spotted Whistling Duck eat?
The Spotted Whistling Duck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Spotted Whistling Duck migrate?
The Spotted Whistling Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Spotted 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 Spotted Whistling Duck make?
4 real field recordings of the Spotted Whistling Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Spotted Whistling Duck's range?
The Spotted Whistling Duck has a mapped global range of about 926,000 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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