Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is a striking, long-legged waterfowl with a gray face, chestnut crown and breast, a bold black belly, and a bright coral-pink bill and legs. In flight, it shows a large white wing patch bordered by black, and its habit of perching on fence posts, tree limbs, and rooftops sets it apart from most other ducks.

Once largely restricted to the American tropics, this social, noisy species has expanded its range northward into the southern United States in recent decades and is now a familiar sight around ponds, golf courses, and urban wetlands in parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

Key field marks

• Bright coral-pink bill and legs
• Gray face and neck, chestnut crown and breast, solid black belly
• Large white wing patch bordered in black, conspicuous in flight
• Long neck and long legs; often perches upright on branches, posts, or roofs

Similar species

The Fulvous Whistling-Duck is uniformly tawny-orange with a dark bill and pale (not black) belly, lacking the gray face and pink bill of the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks inhabit freshwater ponds, marshes, agricultural fields, and increasingly urban and suburban wetlands from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America. The species has expanded its range substantially northward in the U.S. in recent decades, aided by its tolerance of human-modified habitats such as retention ponds and golf courses.

Behavior

Highly social and vocal, often seen in flocks and readily perching in trees or on structures, unlike most ducks. They are frequently active at dusk and after dark.

Voice

Gives a distinctive, high-pitched, chattering whistle, often described as a four- or five-note 'wha-chee-chee-chee,' frequently heard from flying or perched flocks.

Feeding

Mostly seeds, grains, and other plant material, gathered by grazing on land or dabbling in shallow water, along with some aquatic invertebrates.

Nesting

Nests in tree cavities as well as on the ground and in nest boxes; both parents share incubation and care of the ducklings, which is relatively unusual among ducks.