White-Winged Ducks

News: A rare pair of white-winged ducks was recently spotted in Assam’s Dehing Patkai National Park.

About Rare White-Winged Ducks

• The white-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata) is also known as Deo Hanh.
• It is a rare and endangered species primarily found in the dense forests of South and Southeast Asia.
• This elusive bird is the state bird of Assam, India.
• They are forest-dwelling species that inhabit wetlands, swamps, slow-moving streams, and channels within dense tropical forests.
• In India, their populations are mainly found in Assam’s Nameri National Park and Dihing Patkai National Park, with smaller fragmented populations in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Beyond India, they are also distributed across Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian countries.
• Despite their wide distribution, their population has significantly declined due to:
  • Deforestation: Rapid loss of forest cover has destroyed their natural habitat.
  • Hunting: These birds have been subjected to poaching in several regions.
  • Human Encroachment: Increasing human activities near their habitat have led to habitat degradation.
• Conservation status:IUCN : Endangered status
• The White-Winged Duck Recovery Project was initiated in 2018 focussing on tracking and protecting these birds through passive acoustic monitoring and habitat conservation strategies.