Black-bellied tree duck
The Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is a whistling duck found in the Americas. 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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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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WaterfowlWaterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans. They ...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Highly socialHighly social animals are those which are highly interactive with other members of their species. They live in large groups, nest in colonies, and ...
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starts withThe Black-bellied whistling duck 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. The extensive white in the wings is obvious in flight, less so on the ground; it is formed by the secondary remiges while the primaries are black; the wing coverts are brown. Males and females look alike; juveniles are similar but have a gray bill and less contrasting belly.
Before 2000 Black-bellied whistling ducks breed mainly in the southernmost United States, Mexico, and tropical Central to south-central South America. They can be found year-round in much of the United States and have been recorded in every eastern state and adjacent Canadian province. Black-bellied whistling ducks are mainly non-migratory, although, at the heart of their range, there is a tendency to travel in flocks over the winter months; though this behavior is not a true long-range migration but rather local dispersal. These ducks inhabit shallow freshwater ponds, lakes, marshes, cultivated land, or reservoirs with plentiful vegetation.
Black-bellied whistling ducks are highly gregarious and like to form large flocks when not breeding. They usually feed at night but can be encountered eating at any hour of the day. They often feed on submerged vegetation by wading through shallow water. They are commonly seen gleaning recently harvested fields for leftover seeds and invertebrates brought up by the harvesters disturbing the soil. After the breeding season Black-bellied whistling ducks molt and are unable to fly for about 30-40 days. During this time they become secretive and hide among vegetation in large marshes. As their name implies, these are very noisy birds with a clear whistling ‘waa-chooo’ call.
Black-bellied whistling ducks have a herbivorous (granivorous, graminivorous) diet that consists of seeds, agricultural crops, aquatic plants, grass, and other plant food. They may also supplement their diet with insects and mollusks.
Black-bellied whistling ducks are unique among ducks in their strong monogamous pair-bonds. Pairs often stay together for many years. Both parents take part in the raising of young, from incubation to the rearing of ducklings. These ducks are primarily cavity nesters; they prefer to nest in the confines of a hollow tree but will nest on the ground when necessary. They also make use of chimneys, abandoned buildings, or nest boxes, the latter having been increasingly provided to them over recent decades, especially in southeast Texas and Mexico. The female usually lays 12-18 whitish eggs and incubation lasts for about 25-30 days. Ducklings leap from nest cavities within 2 days of hatching, can feed themselves immediately, and stay with their parents for up to 8 weeks.
Black-bellied whistling ducks are not threatened at present but they suffer from water pollution and degradation of wetland habitats.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Black-bellied whistling duck is 200,000-2,000,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
