The Fulvous Tree Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) — more frequently known as the Fulvous Whistling Duck — is a medium-sized, caramel-brown and black, long-necked and long-legged duck. In the United States, they are found in and around rice fields, crayfish farms and flooded pastures in Florida, Texas and Louisiana. The Fulvous Duck has been known to roost in trees, which is why they were once referred to as “tree ducks.”

Fulvous Whistling Ducks can weigh up to two pounds with a wingspan of approximately 35 inches, and can live up to 11 years old. These lanky waterfowl are varying shades of brown with a rich buff-colored head, neck and breast and a darker carmel-brown back. It has white stripes on its flanks, a grey bill and legs and a black tail. Females are smaller and slightly more muted than the males.

The Fulvous Whistling Duck is a noisy bird, with a clear whistling call heard when on the ground, in flight, in the day and at night.

Fulvous Whistling Ducks forage by filter-feeding, like the North American Shoveler Ducks, where they strain mud for seeds and small insects. Their diet is mainly seeds of aquatic plants and grasses like wild millet, water lily, nightshade, and rice.

Females sometimes will lay eggs in others’ nests. Both sexes will help incubate the eggs, and the pair will sometimes leave their eggs unattended for hours until closer to hatching time. The Fulvous Duck prefers to nest on the ground in dense vegetations close to water.

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