Dendrocygna guttata

General description: 

Small white mark at base of lower mandible. Reminiscent of D. arborea though smaller and with blackish mask and grey face, round white marks on belly. Juvenile duller, having white flank feather broadly streaked with black, irregular white streaks on sides.

Conservation status: 

Not Threatened.

Diagnostic description: 

Small white mark at base of lower mandible. Reminiscent of D. arborea though smaller and with blackish mask and grey face, round white marks on belly. Juvenile duller, having white flank feather broadly streaked with black, irregular white streaks on sides.

Behaviour: 

Size: 

43-50 cm. 800 g

Phylogeny: 

Taxonomy:

    Dendrocygna guttata Schlegel, 1866, Celebes. Superficially resembles D. arborea, but apparently linked most closely to D. eytoni. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution: 

Distribution:

    Mindanao (Philippines) and Sulawesi through Moluccas and Tanimbar (Lesser Sundas) to New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago.
Habitat: 

Margins of freshwater swamps, lakes, pools, creaks and rivers, surrounded by grasslands and scatted trees, only in lowlands.

Trophic strategy: 

Diet includes grass seeds and small snails.

Reproduction: 

Starts at beginning of wet season (Sept). Nest in hollow trees. Normally 11 eggs, incubation c. 28-31 days.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith