Black-bellied whistling duck are widespread and common in Central America and South America … Taxonomy and evolution [ edit ] Whistling ducks were first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758: the black-bellied whistling duck (then Anas autumnalis) and the West Indian whistling duck (then Anas arborea). Distribution of the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in the Americas. Also, both are nocturnal-crepuscular, where in the twilight, few hunters can tell what species they are shooting at or differentiate what the call (whistle) they make. Grenon, A.G. 1990. 1990 Third report of the NOU Records Committee. The whistling ducks or tree ducks are a subfamily, Dendrocygninae, of the duck, goose and swan family of birds, Anatidae. Check out the full taxonomy and distribution of Black-bellied Whistling-duck on HBW Alive. Black-bellied Whistling-duck populations are currently stable or increasing. Black-bellied Whistling-duck 43-53 cm; 530-890 g (nominate)#R, male 680-907 g, female 652-1021 g (fulgens)#R. Unmistakable. They are not true ducks. In places like Texas and Louisiana, watch for noisy flocks of these gaudy ducks dropping into fields to forage on seeds, or loafing on golf course ponds. This species also wanders rarely throughout the West Indies, except in Cuba, where small numbers have become resident, and on Barbados. In the United States, they winter primarily in southern coastal Texas. In other taxonomic schemes, they are considered a separate family, Dendrocygnidae. These are gregarious birds that are found in small and medium-sized flocks, though larger flocks of 1,000 ducks or more have been noted. Whistling Ducks There are eight species of Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna), Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Plumed Whistling Duck, Spotted Whistling Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, West Indian Whistling Duck, and the White-faced Whistling Duck, all found at WWT Slimbridge: - Figure 1. Like the black-bellied, there is limited information. 2010 (22 nd) Report of the NOU Records Committee. The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is a boisterous duck with a brilliant pink bill and an unusual, long-legged silhouette. HBW Alive contains information on Descriptive notes, Voice, Habitat, Food and Feeding, Breeding, Movements, Status and Conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account. Sexes alike, but male may have slightly darker ab Photograph (top) of a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Omaha, Douglas Co, on 11 Nov 2010 by Phil Swanson. Large flocks are often observed in wintering areas in the lowlands of Mexico, though formerly more abundant in interior Mexico than at present. Literature Cited. Labedz, T.E. Additionally, another whistling duck, the fulvous, not only has similar traits as black-bellied, they share the same habitat. 1990. The white patch in the wings appears as a stripe down its wing while at rest. Neotropical Birds has been integrated into the new Birds of the World , a powerful research database offering species accounts for every species on earth. A fairly new arrival on the Louisiana waterfowl scene is the black bellied whistling duck, which whistles when nesting. See text for details. NBR 58: 90-97. While Birds of the World is a subscription service, we remain committed to offering this content to Neotropical Birds contributors and to those unable to pay for it through our scholarship program. 2011. Adult In flight shows a large white patch on the upperwings. Some taxonomists list … Occasional records in the southwestern and eastern United States and Ontario may involve both wild and escaped birds. Adult Long-necked duck with a red bill and long red legs. Black-bellied whistling ducks are migratory in the northern- and southernmost limits of their range.