They are two of only three types of Whistling Ducks in Australia.

Wandering Whistling Ducks are not surprisingly, named for their call, a shrill, high pitched descending whistle. Their wings also make a whistling noise in flight.

These ducks are found more commonly in the north of Australia, but their range extends to South East NSW.

They prefer deep lagoons and swamps with vegetation, flooded grasslands including irrigated pastures and sewerage farms. They swim readily and dive often for food.

They are a large duck, and have been described as looking like a cross between a goose and a duck.

With striking red-brown plumage, a pale face, neck and upper breast and a dark stripe on the crown of the head, they certainly catch the eye.

The bill and legs are dark, and both the neck and legs are longer than other ducks.

An unusual and diagnostic feature is the elongated, whitish flank plumes, that partially cover the wings at rest. Both males and females have the same plumage.

In flight, the dark underwings, cinnamon and chestnut underbody, white undertail and trailing dark legs are seen.

Wandering Whistling ducks are almost entirely vegetarian and eat aquatic plants, grass, waterlilies, insects and aquatic vertebrates.

Instead of teeth, ducks have saw-like edges on their bills, that allow them to filter food from the water.

Whistling Ducks are gregarious. They forage in flocks and can often be seen in the middle of the day, resting in groups on partially submerged logs or on grassy banks, near water.

At night they often fly to their night roosts in large flocks.

In the Hunter I have seen small numbers at Thornton and Tarro and occasionally at the Hunter Wetland Centre, in Shortland.

They are an uncommon resident and have been recorded as breeding in the area. Very little is known about their brooding habits.

When it rains the flocks disperse from coastal dry season refuges near permanent water to the ephemeral inland breeding swamps.

They build a nest consisting of a scrape in the ground, out of reach of rising floodwater and hidden in tall grass or shrubbery.

The nest is lined with grass and six to fifteen eggs are laid.

The ducklings are a downy chocolate brown and grey.