Wandering Whistling-Duck

1. Pale flank streaks edged in chestnut lie flat against the body.

2. Black legs and bill distinguish them from similar species.

3. Upright posture due to long legs makes them easily recognizable.

These ducks feed primarily on aquatic plants and seeds but occasionally consume insects and small aquatic animals. They forage mostly at night in tight flocks that move forward in a rolling motion as birds at the back fly to the fronta unique behaviour among waterfowl. During the wet season, pairs leave flocks to breed, building simple nests hidden in dense vegetation near water. Both parents incubate 8-12 eggs for about 26-3 days and care for ducklings until they fledge at around 45-65 days.

Wandering Whistling Ducks inhabit permanent freshwater wetlands rich in aquatic vegetation, such as billabongs, swamps, rivers, and floodplain pools across northern Australia from Broome to northern New South Wales. They are often seen in flocks at dawn and dusk, diving for food or resting near water margins during the dry season before dispersing widely in the wet season.