Common name: Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Scientific name: Dendrocygna bicolor
Family: Anatidae

Size:
Body length: 45–53 cm
Wingspan: 85–93 cm
Weight: 500–900 g

Identification:
A slender, long-necked duck with a warm reddish-brown (fulvous) body. It has a darker back with fine streaking, a pale face, and long legs that often give it an upright posture. The bill is bluish-grey. In flight, it shows a rich chestnut coloration with contrasting darker upperparts. Both sexes are similar.

Habitat:
Freshwater wetlands, marshes, flooded grasslands, rice fields, and shallow lakes. Prefers areas with dense vegetation and standing water.

Status in the UAE:
Rare visitor. Occasionally recorded in wetlands, sometimes appearing irregularly.

Diet:
Omnivorous — feeds mainly on seeds, grasses, aquatic plants, and small invertebrates.

Behavior:
Highly social and often seen in flocks. Known for its distinctive high-pitched whistling calls, especially in flight. Feeds by grazing or dabbling in shallow water. Often perches or rests in groups near water.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)