Lesser whistling duck portrait, Jaipur

The lesser whistling duck is also known as Indian whistling duck or lesser whistling teal. They are nocturnal feeders that during the day may be found in flocks around lakes. They can perch on trees and sometimes build their nest in the hollow of a tree. This brown and long-necked duck has broad wings that are visible in flight and produces a loud two-note wheezy call. This is a largely resident species distributed widely across lowland wetlands of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Lesser whistling duck are usually gregarious. They feed mainly on plants taken from the water as well as grains from cultivated rice apart from small fish, frogs and invertebrates such as molluscs and worms. Local names like sili and silhahi in India are based on their wheezy two-note calls. Breeding Season determined by extent of rains, but tends to coincide with start of rainy period. Once paired these birds are monogamous and form life-time bonds. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.