Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

The black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis, is a distinctive mid-sized waterfowl with a long pink bill, elongated head, and relatively lengthy legs. Exhibiting a palette of pale gray, rich chestnut brown, and black, this species is easily recognizable. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with juveniles bearing a resemblance but sporting a gray bill and less pronounced belly contrast.

Identification Tips

When identifying the black-bellied whistling duck, look for the unique white wing patch, visible in flight, formed by the secondary remiges, while the primaries are black. The belly and tail are black, contrasting with the chestnut brown body plumage, back of the neck, and cap. The face and upper neck are gray, highlighted by a thin but distinct white eye-ring.

Habitat

This species favors shallow freshwater ponds, lakes, and marshes, as well as cultivated lands or reservoirs with abundant vegetation, which provide ample foraging opportunities.

Distribution

The black-bellied whistling duck is primarily non-migratory, with a range that includes the southernmost United States, Mexico, and parts of Central to south-central South America. It has been recorded in every eastern state and adjacent Canadian province, with recent observations indicating a northward expansion into the Midwestern U.S.

Behaviour

Renowned for its sociability, the black-bellied whistling duck forms large flocks outside of the breeding season and is known for its tame nature even in the wild. It typically nests in hollow trees and is largely resident, with local movements rather than true long-range migration.

Song & Calls

The species is vocal with a clear whistling "waa-chooo" call, which is the source of its common name.

Breeding

Exhibiting a strong monogamous pair-bond, the black-bellied whistling duck is unique among ducks. Both parents are involved in all aspects of rearing the young, from incubation to guiding the ducklings. They are primarily cavity nesters but will adapt to ground nesting or artificial nest boxes if necessary.

Diet and Feeding

These ducks are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant material, arthropods, aquatic invertebrates, and tadpoles. They are known to forage by wading through shallow waters and are often seen feeding in recently harvested fields.

Conservation status

The black-bellied whistling duck is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable and increasing global population estimated between 1,100,000 and 2,000,000 individuals.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Ducks, Geese, Swans

A photo of a Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) , male

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.