Indian lesser whistling ducks

Indian lesser whistling ducks

Indian lesser whistling ducks

Found across Southeast Asia, Chulan Eranda goes by the name Lesser Whistling Duck in English. This creature carries the scientific tag Dendrocygna javanica. Another common label used is Indian Whistling Duck. Breeding happens widely through South Asia along with regions further east.

Out here, across parts of Asia - stretching from Pakistan through to Vietnam - you’ll spot them near water. Lakes filled with plants often hold these birds among reeds and lily pads. Instead of just eating grasses, they go after seeds too, plucking food from shallow edges. Though mostly tied to fresh inland spots, a few wander toward saltwater when things get crowded.

Long legs stretch beneath a plump frame, built wide with a thick middle. Gray feathers cover the back end and wings, shading into sooty tones. A slender neck leads to a pale face, marked by an extended snout of dull ash color. This shape moves through air in scattered patterns, never tightly formed. High above ground, sharp clicking sounds slice through wind - short bursts repeated midflight. Not every call lands clearly on human ears. Buried deep in bark or tucked into another bird's home, six to twelve eggs find their start. These spots include places like Chulan Eranda, Kozhikode, and parts of Thrissur where nesting quietly happens