Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis , Juvenile. Photograph taken in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, April 2024. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California. Identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis. Identification courtesy of Harrison Jones, Ivins, Utah.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis. Photograph taken in the coastal region of Guatemala, March 2020. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis. Photograph taken within a residential community in Alamos, Sonora, March 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis. Photograph taken in the greater Puerto Vallarta area, Guerrero, March 2014. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.
Background and Identification
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis, is a member of the Anatidae Family of Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl. They are a striking and distinctive species of waterfowl known for their bold plumage and extremely unique vocalizations. Like other duck species, the Black-bellied Whistling Duck forms lifelong pair bonds and breeds as young as one-year-old. In Mexico, this species is known as Suirirí Piquirrojo.
Identification of the Black-bellied Whistling Duck is straightforward. Adults have a long, slender neck and a black belly, which contrasts sharply with their chestnut brown body. Their face and upper neck are gray, while their bill is a vivid pinkish-red. One of the most notable features of this duck is its bright white wing patches, which are especially visible in flight. True to their name, these ducks produce a high-pitched, whistling call that can be heard from a distance, often repeating a whistling “pe-che-che-ne“. Their distinctive song allows for easier identification.
Habitat and Geographical Range
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are typically found in shallow freshwater wetlands, including marshes, swamps, ponds, and lakes. They are also known to inhabit flooded agricultural fields and even urban parks with suitable water sources. These ducks are highly social and often gather in large flocks, especially outside the breeding season. They are attracted to areas of corn and rice fields and can cause damage to crops.
Geographically, the Black-bellied Whistling Duck has a broad range extending from the southern United States down through Mexico and Central America to northern South America. In the United States, they are primarily found in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. They mainly breed along coastal regions of Mexico and southern Texas. Their range is extending northwards in the states, as they are very tolerant of cities and densely populated areas. Populations living in the northern United States tend to be migratory, wintering in Mexico. In Mexico, they are found in all low-level coastal regions within both the Atlantic and the Pacific Slopes on the mainland at elevations up to 2,500 m (8,200 feet).
Common Misidentifications
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck can sometimes be confused with the Fulvous Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna bicolor. While both species share similar habitats and social behaviors, the Fulvous Whistling Duck lacks the black belly and has a more uniformly warm, brownish-tan coloration with a paler face and underparts. Additionally, the Fulvous Whistling Duck has blue-gray legs, compared to the pinkish-red legs of the Black-bellied Whistling Duck. Observing these key differences in coloration and leg color can help distinguish between the two species.
Conservation Status
From a conservation perspective the Black-bellied Whistling Duck is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. Their population is considered stable and may even be increasing in some areas, thanks to their adaptability to various habitats and their tolerance of human-altered landscapes.