Birds Around Me 0121 - Lesser whistling duck (ताम्रहंस, सिल्काही)

Birds Around Me 0121 - Lesser whistling duck (ताम्रहंस, सिल्काही) - Dendrocygna javanica

- August 24, 2018

The Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica), also known in Hindi as ताम्रहंस or सिल्काही, is a charming and widely distributed waterbird across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. With its soft chestnut hues and unmistakable whistling call, this duck is a familiar sight in wetlands, lakes, and paddy fields.

Lesser whistling duck (ताम्रहंस, सिल्काही) - Dendrocygna javanica Taken on June 26, 2018 Location: Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur, India (Latitude: 23.172826, Longitude: 79.881881)

Size: Medium-sized, about 42 cm in length.

Plumage: Warm chestnut upper tail-coverts and shoulders, with a dark brown crown and white streaks along the flanks.

Eyes: Surrounded by a pale yellow or orange ring, giving it a gentle expression.

Flight: Broad wings and a slow, flapping flight style, often accompanied by a distinctive two-note whistling call.

Lesser whistling duck (ताम्रहंस, सिल्काही) - Dendrocygna javanica
Jabalpur, M.P., India
April 2025

Prefers freshwater wetlands, marshes, ponds, and flooded rice fields. Often seen in flocks, resting during the day and becoming more active at dusk. Known for perching on trees, a rare trait among ducks. Can even nest in tree hollows, though ground nesting is more common.

Primarily nocturnal feeders, foraging at night for aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates. During the day, they gather in groups near water bodies, often seen preening or basking in the sun. Their name comes from their prominent whistling sound, which is especially noticeable during flight. The call is a soft, wheezy whistle, often heard in chorus when flocks take off or circle overhead.

They breed during the monsoon season, nesting in dense vegetation or tree cavities. Lays 6–12 eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and chick-rearing duties. Found across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and parts of Southeast Asia. Also seen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Maldives.

In rural India, the ताम्रहंस is often associated with the arrival of rains and is considered a symbol of seasonal change. Plays a vital role in wetland ecosystems, helping control insect populations and dispersing aquatic plant seeds.