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PLATE 1: WHISTLING DUCKS AND SWANS
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor V
L: 50. W: 80. Shares upright stance and long neck and legs with similar but smaller Lesser Whistling
Duck; told from latter by larger, warm orange head with longer bill giving elongated profile, and
dark line down hindneck; also dark streaking on sides of neck and prominent white streaks on
flanks. In rather weak flight both whistling ducks show rather rounded wings with dark upper- and
underwings and deep wingbeats. Habitat Freshwater wetlands. Note Vagrant Oman, Yemen, from
Africa or Orient.Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica V
L: 42. W: 70. Similar to but smaller than Fulvous Whistling Duck, which see, being told by greyish-
buff head and neck, lacking dark line down hindneck, and absence of black streaking on neck-
sides. In flight note bright chestnut forewing and uppertail-coverts. Habitat Freshwater wetlands.
Note Vagrant Oman, from Orient.Mute Swan Cygnus olor V
L: 153. W: 223. Orange bill with black knob in adults (larger in male). Typically with graceful S-curve
to long neck, bill often pointing down. Juvenile dingy-brown with black-based grey bill gradually
becoming pink and then orange. Plumage grows increasingly white during first winter and spring,
sometimes still partly brownish above until second winter. In flight, wingbeats produce loud,
rhythmic, singing sound vaou-vaou-vaou. Voice Mostly silent. Habitat Lakes, marshes, deltas;
in winter also sheltered sea coasts; builds large nest near water. Note Winter hatched; vagrant
Gulf States, Oman.Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus V
L: 153. W: 231. Similar to Bewick’s Swan, but larger (size of Mute Swan) with proportionately
longer neck and bill; black bill with prominent yellow base extending in wedge to below nostril or
beyond. Flight silent but with powerful wingbeats like Mute Swan. Juvenile/immature similar to
Bewick’s, but note longer neck and wedge-shaped head profile. Young birds often with parents
during first winter. Voice Similar to Bewick’s but deeper and stronger and with musical, trumpet-like
quality ahng-ha or ko-ko-ko; often trisyllabic. Habitat Tidal waters, lakes, rivers and floodplains,
fields. Note Vagrant Oman, Qatar, UAE.Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii V
L: 121. W: 195. Smallest swan, with shorter neck and bill than Mute and Whooper Swans. Similar to
larger Whooper (both having straight neck), but yellow on bill reduced to base, ending well behind
nostril. Immature greyer than same age Mute Swan, and pink bill lacks black base, becoming white
and later yellow during first winter. From immature Whooper by shorter neck and bill and more
rounded head. In flight wingbeats slightly faster, more goose-like and with no humming sound.
Voice Similar to Whooper but higher pitched, monosyllabic or disyllabic (Whooper often has
three syllables), sometimes recalling distant barking dogs. Habitat Inland and coastal wetlands.
Note Winter hatched; vagrant Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE.Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos V
L: 76. W: 150. Large duck, with strong flight recalling goose. Male has large fleshy knob on top
of bill and forehead, absent in female and juvenile. White head and neck speckled blackish,
underparts largely white, in male with narrow black half-collar down sides of breast (absent in
rather smaller female which has also more mottled underparts). Upper back blackish, glossed green
and purple, lower back conspicuously grey. In flight, upperwing, rump and tail appear all-dark
except for bronze speculum. Immature duller, less glossy than female. Perches freely on trees; feeds
largely by grazing. Habitat Wetlands. Note Vagrant Oman, from Africa or Orient. [Alt: Comb Duck]