This was a duck I never knew existed until we found them last year. They were in this same wildlife area.
They are year round residents along the Lowcountry coast, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. The range is extending north, but based on their breeding habits it might take sometime. The ducklings are raised on the open marshes here, we see them in the open often. We have a lot of Eagles and other large raptors here. Obviously some make it to adulthood, but I don’t know how.
This duck found an old Wood Duck nesting box in a swamp. A second Whistler was near so they might be nesting here.
Oh yeah, they don’t quack, they whistle.
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Whistling Duck
Whistling Duck
Whistling Duck
What a cute duck!
They are big for a duck too.
It’s a different and wonderful duck. I probably will never see this duck, we don’t have them were I live.
Most of the US doesn’t have them. I just found them a year ago. I only see them in small groups.
Back in 2014 a flock of these ducks flew over me in Florida. What an experience to hear them whistling!
We have small groups, no flocks, so I have only heard one or two at a time. Great to hear.