Black-bellied Whistling Ducks: Dendrocygna autumnalis

Appearance:

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.

Habitat:

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.

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.

Behavior:

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.

Additional Information:

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