2

Plumed Whistling-Duck

(Dendrocygna eytoni)
Alternative names: "Plumed Tree-duck", "Eyton's Tree-duck"
Size: 40-60 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Plumed Whistling-Ducks populate the entire northern coastline of the Australian continent and the northern inland, down to about a line from Exmouth, WA, via Tennant Creek, NT, into QLD. Down the eastern seaboard they are found all along Cape York, the eastern half of QLD (occasionally also in the western part) and the eastern parts of NSW and VIC (with the exception of a narrow coastal fringe from about Sydney to Melbourne).

Plumed Whistling-Ducks are often found in wetlands in relatively open country such as grasslands, e.g. around dams in farming country.

Sightings

Although our former neighbour had seen them occasionally on his billabong, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, in 2005, we did not see a Plumed Whistling-Duck until January 2009. A flock of about 50 birds was spotted by us on a dam about 20 km north of Narrabri.

The summer of 2011/12 saw many Plumed Whistling-Ducks in inland NSW. We spotted a flock of about 200 birds at Kenebri, NSW, in December 2011. More birds were seen in the same timeframe in the township of Narrabri and 20 km east of Narrabri.

Seen in July 2009 on a pond in an urban park in south Rockhampton, QLD, where they were staying in their hundreds.

Photos

Pair of Plumed Whistling-Ducks on a farm dam; probably the male is leading the female

Plumed Whistling-Ducks seen on a pond in Rockhampton, QLD

"Oi, mate, you're not one of us!" (Royal Spoonbill)

Overview of about half of all Plumed Whistling-Ducks seen on a pond in Rockhampton, QLD

Nine of about 50 Plumed Whistling-Ducks spotted by us north of Narrabri

Plumed Whistling-Ducks on the banks of an artificial dam

In this photo the evening light illuminates the plumes very conspicuously

Flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks on the water

Plumed Whistling-Ducks in flight; here one can see clearly that the plumes grow on the body and are not part of the wings

Part of a flock of 200 bird in flight

Close-up dorsal view of a Plumed Whistling-Duck in captivity

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Nomadic Elementary unit: Large flock

Food

Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Plumed Whistling-Ducks are vegetarian. They feed on plants on land.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.