Field Guide to Birds of North America
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
General
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Large, colorful, slender duck with bright red bill and pink-red legs and feet. Shows white wing patch, black belly, and reddish-brown breast. Sexes are similar. Juvenile resembles adult but has gray-tinged underparts and gray bill, legs, and feet.
Range and Habitat
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Occurs in freshwater and estuarine wetlands and marshes along the Texas Gulf Coast and also in southern Arizona.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"pe che che ne"
Interesting Facts
- The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is an unusual species among North American waterfowl. With its long legs, peculiar appearance, and odd habits, it was described by one early American ornithologist as “most un-duck-like.”
- They were formerly known as the Black-bellied Tree Duck; as this name suggests, they are quite fond of perching. Additionally, tree cavities provide nesting sites.
- This species expanded its range in the latter half of the 20th century, and has benefited in recent years from the placement of nest boxes across key portions of its range.
- A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.
Author
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Family
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Species
Dendrocygna autumnalis
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Length18 - 21
Inches
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Wingspan35
Inches
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Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Large, colorful duck with bright red bill, pink-red legs and feet. Shows white wing patch, black belly, reddish-brown breast, neck and back. Face, foreneck are gray, white eye ring. Feeds on aquatic plants, cultivated grains, seeds. Direct flight on rapid wing beats.
● Song: "pe che che ne"
● Foraging & Feeding: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Feeds mainly on seeds of grasses and sorghum. Searches for food primarily at night in shallow water or on land. May eat a few invertebrates.
● Breeding & nesting: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Mainly nests in tree cavities but may also nest on the ground with little material added to form a nest cup. Lays twelve to sixteen white eggs that are incubated by both parents for about 28 days. Chicks begin to fly at 56 days but remain wth the parents for at least 144 days.
● Similar species: Black-bellied Whistling Duck: Fulvous Whistling-Duck lacks black belly, has gray-blue bill, legs and feet and pale brown plumage.
Flight Pattern
Steady direct flight with rapid wing beats.
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BreedingSolitary nester
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PopulationUncommon and local
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MigrationMost do not migrate
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Weight28.8
Ounces
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