The fulvous whistling duck actually is more closely related to geese than to ducks.  Fulvous whistling ducks have long legs and necks, which leads to a distinct profile when flying.  When seen standing, they look more goose-like than duck-like.  Male and female fulvous whistling ducks look alike, the head, chest and belly are tawny-brown and the wings and back are darker brown.  They have a silvery border between the belly and wings formed by white tipped feathers and a blue-gray bill.

Separate populations of fulvous whistling ducks occur in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, South America, and North America.  Prior to about 30 years ago, fulvous whistling ducks did not nest in Florida.  Today, nesting fulvous whistling ducks are abundant in South Florida where rice is grown. In winter, many fly south, apparently to Cuba.

Population Management

Lack of funds and personnel have prevented the Waterfowl Management Staff from extensively studying and managing these ducks. Since 1985, about 421 fulvous whistling ducks have been banded in Florida. We do not have an accurate estimate of the number of breeding fulvous whistling ducks in Florida.

Habitat Management 

To promote good management for fulvous whistling ducks (and mottled ducks), the Waterfowl Management Staff encourages shallow flooding of fallow agricultural fields and rice culture in place of sugar cane.  Below are some pictures of fulvous whistling duck nests in flooded rice fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area of Florida.

Visit the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas web site to view a brief species account and breeding distribution map. 

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

(Dendrocygna autumnalis)

     Black-bellied whistling ducks (BBWD) are very gregarious and easily recognizable among waterfowl.  A highly arboreal species, BBWD’s can often be found perching in trees and prefer to nest in natural tree cavities but will readily use nest boxes and have been reported to nest on the ground as well.  Both males and females look similar with red bills, pink feet, white wing patches, and black bellies.  The head is brownish-gray with a white eye-ring. 

     US populations occur along the Gulf Coast in Texas and southwestern Louisiana, and in peninsular Florida.  BBWD’s also occur in portions of Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies. 

     Since 1968, BBWD have frequently been found in central and south Florida in late summer and early fall, sometimes in flocks of fulvous whistling ducks.  In 1981, a flock of 11 birds wintered in Sarasota County, and five or six remained through the summer of 1982. The flock increased to at least 35 birds during the winter of 1982-83 and was considered to be a wild flock

     During the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas project, 12 potential breeding records were obtained for this species in Hardee, Lake, Manatee, Palm Beach, Polk, and Sarasota counties. Three of the records occurred in natural wetlands, three in small ponds, three in phosphate mines, two in flooded agricultural fields, and one in a sewage treatment pond.  Since 1992, additional birds have been reported in Hamilton, Hernando, Indian River, Orange, Volusia, and Wakulla counties, indicating the species continues to expand its range in Florida. In 1996 two or three pairs apparently bred and produced young in Hamilton County, fewer than 16 miles south of the Georgia state line.  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists have observed flightless young at the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area (Brevard County) annually since 1999.  Flightless young have been observed as late as mid-November.

 Habitat Management 

     Similar to fulvous whistling ducks.  Agricultural lands in close proximity to water, rice culture, and shallow wetlands with exposed mud flats provide excellent feeding opportunities.  BBWD’s prefer to feed at night, but have been observed feeding at all hours of the day.      

Visit the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas web site to view a brief species account and breeding distribution map.