Assam – White-winged Wood Duck
Common Name: White-winged Wood Duck
Local Name: known as ‘Deo Hah’ (Spirit Duck) in Assamese, because of its ghost-like call.
Scientific Name: Asarcornis scutulata
Description: The dark body of the adult White-winged Wood Duck stands out in stark contrast to its pale head and neck. The male bird is larger and has fewer dark dots on its neck than the female, and they typically occur in pairs. This non-migratory bird feeds in the slow-moving forest streams and little pools found next to the tropical damp and swamp woods. The only areas of northeastern India where ducks can be found are eastern Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Nameri National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Dihing-Patkai National Park, and Namdapha National Park are the main protected places for white-winged wood ducks.
Threats: The white-winged wood duck is extremely threatened due to hunting and habitat loss caused by the destruction of lowland tropical forests.