 The fulvous whistling duck or fulvous tree duck ( Dendrocygna bicolor ) is a whistling duck that breeds across the world 's tropical regions in much of Mexico and South America , the West Indies , the southern US , sub @-@ Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent . It has mainly reddish brown plumage , long legs and a long grey bill , and shows a distinctive white band across its black tail in flight . Like other members of its ancient lineage , it has a whistling call which is given in flight or on the ground . The preferred habitat is shallow lakes , paddy fields or other wetlands with plentiful vegetation . 
