White-faced Duck… White-faced Whistling Duck…

The White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) is a whistling duck which breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and much of South America.

This species is gregarious, and at favoured sites, the flocks of a thousand or more birds arriving at dawn are an impressive sight. As the name implies, these are noisy birds with a clear three-note whistling call.

This species has a long grey bill, long head and longish legs. It has a white face and crown, and black rear head. The back and wings are dark brown to black, and the under parts are black, although the flanks have fine white barring. The neck is chestnut. All plumages are similar, except that juveniles have a much less contrasted head pattern.

It nests on a stick platform near the ground, and lays 8-12 eggs. Trees are occasionally used for nesting.

I was very privileged to capture on film (memory stick) a mother with her young, unfortunately within days all the young had disappeared, how who knows….

(Credit for the above goes to Wikipedia) I knew it all but I thought they needed the business……

These photos were taken on the ponds of Southbroom Golf Course…