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Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Photo by ColinMacleod
Published on Project Noah
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20.6036, -87.0929

Field Notes

Description:

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is 19-21 in (48–53 cm) long. It has a long red bill, long head and longish legs, pale grey head and mostly grey-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 grey, 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 grey bill and less contrasting belly.

Habitat:

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is mainly non-migratory. Birds in the extreme northern portions of their range (Arizona, Louisiana, and parts of Texas) move south in winter. 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.

Species ID Suggestions

black bellied whistling ducks

Dendrocygna autumnalis

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