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Large, pale duck with protruding cream-colored plumes on flanks.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Wululuu, Grass Whistling Duck, Eyton Tree-Duck
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatWetlands, floodplains, lakes, estuaries, and slow-moving waterways.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from December to February.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Peter Boesman
Range map
Range map
3312visible hotspots
72774visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
The sexes are similar in appearance. Alternate common names include; Eyton's plumed, red-legged or whistling tree-duck, and grey or red-legged whistler. Description Measuring 42–60 cm (16.5–23.5 in) and weighing around one kilogram (2.2 lb), it is a long-necked duck with brown upperparts, paler underparts and a white rump. The chest is a chestnut colour with thin black bars, while long black-margined plumes arise from its flanks.
Behavior
Stands tall and proud in large flocks around the edges of lakes, ponds, dams, or in nearby agricultural land. As the name suggests, note distinctive whistling call.
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