DISTRIBUTION:

The Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) is natural to Asia. Its distribution extends from Pakistan, Nepal and India to the east of the continent, reaching the coast of China. It is native to the island of Sri Lanka and the islands from Indonesia to Borneo. Some have reached the coast of Israel.

DISPLACEMENTS:

This species appears to be sedentary, but it displaces according to the rains and droughts.

BEHAVIOR:

This is a very gregarious whistling-duck, although it prefers to associate only with its own species. Flocks counting a thousand individuals have been seen, but normally the groups are less than a hundred.

It rests during the day in water deposits where there is aquatic vegetation. At night it moves to cultivated fields of rice and other crops.

REPRODUCTION:

Nesting is usually done in the holes in the trees or on the branches. It is common for this whistling-duck to use other birds' abandoned nests. Twigs and grass are added to the nesting site. The clutch is seven to twelve eggs, sometimes up to seventeen. Incubation takes from 27 to 28 days and it is done by both parents.

FOOD:

Feeds on grains and other vegetable substances. Complements its diet with insects and perhaps fish.

DESCRIPTION:

Sexes have similar appearance. The plumage is predominantly brown of different shades and patterns. The bill is dark gray. The legs and feet are dark gray. The eyes are brownish. This is the smallest of the whistling-ducks. The adults reach from 38 to 40 cm in length with a maximum weight of about 600 grams. The wingspan is between 70 and 74 cm.

OTHER NAMES:

The Lesser Whistling-Duck in Spanish is called “Yaguasa Hindú”.