Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna Automnalis
Size:  l3 inches

Due to its unique appearance and odd habits, this species is almost unmistakable and most un-duck-like as you will see.  With an upright stance, long pink legs, pink feet and bill and long neck, they are rarely confused with any other species within their range.  Their back, breast, lower neck and cap are a rich chestnut brown.  The face and upper neck are gray and they sport a distinct white eye ring.  The belly is black and their call is a clear whistling “waa-choo”; hence the name, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck.  A large white wing bar is visible in flight.

The immature duck is duller and more grayish-brown, with gray bill, legs and feet.  The belly is mostly gray with some black spots.  They will grow to a mature length of l3 inches, with a wingspan of 37 inches.  Their lack of sexual dimorphism, lack of complex pair forming behavior and relatively long term pair bonds more resembles geese and swans.

The whistling ducks were formerly known as tree ducks, but only a few such as the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck actually perch and nest in trees.  They inhabit shallow fresh water ponds, lakes and marshes – preferably tree lined.

Aquatic plants, grass, grain, insects and mollusks make up their diet.  Feeding often occurs nocturnally, but can occur at any hour.  They often feed on submerged vegetation by wading through shallow water.  In Mexico, the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is known as “pato maizal”, or cornfield duck, as it is commonly seen gleaning recently harvested fields.  The ducks have even been documented opening fresh husks of corn and feeding on the kernels within!

They are mainly non-migratory, but birds in the extreme northern portions of their range (Arizona, Louisiana, and parts of Texas) move south in winter.  They breed in southernmost USA, Mexico, tropical Central and South America.

The ducks, primarily cavity nesters, prefer the confines of a hollow tree, but will nest on the ground in a scrape or shallow bowl of woven grasses, with thick vegetation overhead such as cactus.  They also make use of chimneys, abandoned buildings, or nest boxes; the latter having been increasingly provided over recent decades, especially in southeast Texas, Mexico and Florida.

The nesting place usually holds l2 – l6 eggs, which are incubated 25 – 30 days.  Both parents share all tasks associated with the raising of young, from incubation to the rearing of ducklings.  The young chicks are downy, but do not fly for 8 – 9 weeks.  Ducklings leap from nest cavities within two days of hatching, can feed themselves immediately and stay with the parents for up to 8 weeks.

The existence of healthy coastal wetlands and wetlands such as Green Cay, greatly benefits Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks as do the placement of nest boxes across key portions of their range.  We are happy to report that populations are currently stable or increasing for this unique and most un-duck-like duck.

By Stephanie Canter