About the Black-bellied Whistling Duck
The black-bellied whistling duck or black-bellied tree duck, is a whistling duck that before 2000 bred mainly from the southernmost United States to south-central South America. It can be found year-round in much of the United States. It has been recorded in every eastern state and adjacent Canadian province. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "whistling duck" or "Mexican squealer" in the southern USA.
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ID tip
The black-bellied whistling duck is a mid-sized waterfowl species. Length ranges from 47 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in), body mass from 652 to 1,020 g (1.437 to 2.249 lb), and wingspan ranges from 76 to 94 cm (30 to 37 in). It has a long pink bill, long head and longish legs, pale gray head and mostly gray-brown plumage. The belly and tail are black, and the body plumage, back of the neck and cap are a rich chestnut brown. The face and upper neck are gray, and they sport a thin but distinct white eye-ring.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Black-bellied Whistling Duck sounds like
Where the Black-bellied Whistling Duck lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Spain, United Kingdom, Chile, Belgium, Germany, Martinique, St. Barthélemy, Turks & Caicos Islands, Portugal.
When to see the Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Lesser Whistling DuckDendrocygna javanicaThis chestnut brown duck is confusable only with the fulvous whistling duck (D. bicolor) but has chestnut upper-tail coverts unlike the creamy white in the latter.
White-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataThe white-faced whistling duck has a long grey bill, a long head, and longish legs.
Fulvous Whistling DuckDendrocygna bicolorThe fulvous whistling duck is 45–53 cm (18–21 in) long; the male weighs 748–1,050 g (26.4–37.0 oz), and the female averages marginally lighter at 712–1,000 g (25.1–35.3 oz).
Side by side: Black-bellied Whistling Duck vs Lesser Whistling Duck · Black-bellied Whistling Duck vs White-faced Whistling Duck · Black-bellied Whistling Duck vs Fulvous Whistling Duck
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