Can you eat a black bellied whistling duck? A fairly new arrival on the Louisiana waterfowl scene is the black bellied whistling duck, which provides some good eating, according to LDWF waterfowl study leader Larry Reynolds.
What do black-bellied whistling ducks eat?
Black-bellied whistling ducks ingest a wide variety of plant material, but also consume arthropods and aquatic invertebrates when available. They often feed on submerged vegetation by wading through shallow water.
What kind of bird is a black bellied whistling duck?
Black-bellied whistling duck. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Species of bird. The black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), formerly called the black-bellied tree duck, is a whistling duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America.
Do black-bellied whistling ducks migrate?
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.
Can You tame a whistling duck?
The black-bellied whistling duck is a common species that is "quite tame, even in the wild". It is highly gregarious, or social, forming large flocks when not breeding, and is largely resident apart from local movements. It usually nests in hollow trees (in South America many times in palm trees).
Are black-bellied whistling duck rare?
The rare bird is the black-bellied whistling duck, one of a group of eight mostly tropical waterfowl species. They get their name from their high-pitched vocalizations.
Can you hunt black-bellied whistling ducks in Florida?
“Florida waterfowl hunters have great opportunities, especially with duck species like the black-bellied whistling duck and the fulvous whistling duck, where populations in the U.S. mainly occur in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
Are black-bellied whistling ducks endangered?
Least Concern (Population increasing)Black-bellied whistling duck / Conservation status
Can you hunt black-bellied whistling ducks in Louisiana?
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) urges the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to approve the harvest of Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks during the annual (September) Teal season, in the state of Louisiana.
How do you get rid of whistling ducks?
The best thing you can do to get ducks out of specific areas is, if possible, block off or remove all access to areas providing the water and food. Another duck deterrent option is Bird-X Netting, which is 100% effective when installed properly, however may not be feasible or appropriate for large areas.
Are black-bellied whistling ducks invasive in Florida?
Researchers confirmed the ducks bred in Florida in 1990, and now they are expanding their range into states as far north as Wisconsin, and also to larger expanses in Florida.
Do whistling ducks mate for life?
May mate for life. Often nests in colonies. Nest site usually in tree cavity or broken-off stub, 4-20' above ground or water.
How long do whistling ducks live?
The oldest recorded Black-bellied Whistling Duck was a male, and at least 10 years, 7 months when it was found in 2015 in Louisiana. It was originally banded there in 2005.
What do black-bellied whistling ducks eat?
Habitat. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks nest in thickets or stands of mesquite, hackberry, willow, live oak, and other trees. ... Food. Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks eat mainly plants, including smartweed, grasses, swamp timothy, amaranth, sedges, bindweed, and nightshade. ... Behavior.
What ducks can you shoot in Louisiana?
Ducks: 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be female), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, and 1 pintail.
Are whistling ducks aggressive?
Whistling ducks are sociable though aggressive. The sexes are nearly identical in plumage and behaviour, which includes mutual preening in some species.
Is there a season for Mexican whistler ducks?
Most fulvous whistling ducks depart their breeding range in the United States during September and October to winter in Mexico, returning north again in March and April.
Where do Whistling Ducks live?
Whistling ducks are tropical birds that only nest (as opposed to residing) in Louisiana and are very aggressive in nature.
What ducks eat Louisiana waterfowl?
A fairly new arrival on the Louisiana waterfowl scene is the black bellied whistling duck, which provides some good eating, according to LDWF waterfowl study leader Larry Reynolds.
Do ducks make a whistling sound?
The ducks, which do make a whistling sound when roosting, like to roam shallow ponds, flooded rice fields, golf courses and don’t seem to mind adapting themselves to habitats that have been altered by humans. Biologists say they are very boisterous with a pink bill and long legs.
How long do blackbellied ducks stay together?
The black-bellied whistling duck is quite unique among ducks in their strong monogamous pair-bond. Its pairs often stay together for many years, a trait more often associated with geese and swans. Both parents share all tasks associated with the raising of young, from incubation to the rearing of ducklings. The ducks, primarily cavity nesters, prefer 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. Ducklings leap from nest cavities within two days of hatching, can feed themselves immediately, and stay with the parents for up to eight weeks.
Where is the whistling duck from?
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.
What ducks have wing bars?
The wing bar is unique among whistling du cks. When on the ground, it may be hard to discern the light flanks present in many of these waterfowl. The fulvous whistling duck ( D. bicolor) is the only sympatric whistling duck that shows such a whitish flank stripe, and it differs from the black-bellied by having dark wings and a lighter belly rather than the other way around. Juvenile D. autumnalis are quite similar to young of the white-faced whistling duck ( D. viduata ), which have a darker bill and no white wing patch; even when sitting they never seem to show white along the sides, as their thin white vertical barring on the black flanks is very indistinct.
What is the name of the duck that lives in Panama?
There are two subspecies, which intergrade in Panama : Northern black-bellied whistling duck , D. a. fulgens – Southern USA to Western Panama. Larger, with a brown breast and upper back. Southern black-bellied whistling duck, D. a. autumnalis – Eastern Panama to Paraguay and adjacent regions. Smaller, with gray breast and upper back.
What is the name of the black-bellied duck?
He used the English name "The Red-bill'd Whistling Duck". Edwards based his hand-coloured etching on a live bird kept at the home of Admiral Charles Wager in Chelsea, London. Edwards was told that the bird had come from the West Indies. When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the tenth edition, he placed the black-bellied whistling duck with the ducks, geese and swans in the genus Anas. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Anas autumnalis and cited Edwards' work. The black-bellied whistling duck is now placed in the genus Dendrocygna that was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson to distinguish whistling ducks from the other waterfowl. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek dendron meaning "tree" with the genus Cygnus containing the swans that was introduced by François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault in 1764. The specific epithet autumnalis is Latin meaning "autumnal".
What is the only duck with a whitish flank?
The fulvous whistling duck ( D. bicolor) is the only sympatric whistling duck that shows such a whitish flank stripe, and it differs from the black-bellied by having dark wings and a lighter belly rather than the other way around.
How many blackbellied ducks are there in the world?
The black-bellied whistling duck is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); its global population is estimated at 1,100,000–2,000,000 birds and increasing.
What does a black-bellied duck look like?
Black-bellied whistling ducks are easily recognized. 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.
When do blackbellied ducks come to Florida?
Since 1968, black-bellied whistling ducks frequently have been found in central and south Florida in late summer and early fall, sometimes mixed in flocks of fulvous whistling ducks.
Do black-bellied ducks eat at night?
Black-bellied whistling ducks prefer to feed at night but have been observed feeding at all hours of the day.
What do blackbellied ducks eat?
Back to top. Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks eat mainly plants, including smartweed, grasses, swamp timothy, amaranth, sedges, bindweed, and nightshade. They also eat many agricultural crops including sorghum, millet, corn, rice, and wheat.
How many birds do blackbellied ducks have?
You may see them perched on fences, telephone lines, or in Spanish moss. They are gregarious year-round, forming flocks of up to 1,000 birds.
What are the predators of ducklings?
Individuals are attracted to areas where corn and rice are grown and can cause damage to crops. Nest predators include raccoons, rat snakes, and bull snakes; ducklings may be killed by fire ants, bass, catfish, and gar.
Is it legal to hunt a whistling duck?
Although it’s legal to hunt whistling-ducks in season, they are only rarely targeted by hunters. Like all aquatic species, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are vulnerable to poor water quality—in the 1980s birds in Mexico were reported with high levels of DDT, dieldrin, and other persistent organic compounds.
Why do fulvous whistling ducks not cover their eggs?
Scientists have also observed that fulvous whistling ducks do not cover their eggs when they depart the nest to feed, possibly because of the high temperatures occurring on their southern breeding grounds. In late August and early September, fulvous whistling ducks concentrate in flooded rice fields and large ponds.
What are the characteristics of a black-bellied duck?
Black-bellied whistling ducks fly slowly in shapeless formations. In flight, they show long necks, trailing legs , and broad wings , but the most distinguishing feature is the contrasting black and white between the upper and lower wings. When standing or perching, the most striking features are the bird's namesake stark black belly and sides, along with the red bill and pink feet. Biologists recognize two subpopulations of black-bellies.
What is the habitat of fulvous whistling ducks?
Much of this land is now being used for dryland crops and pasture, which provides little habitat for breeding fulvous whistling ducks. Available information for black-bellied whistling ducks suggests a stable population in Mexico and growing population in Texas.
How do blackbells nest?
Black-bellies breed during their first year of life, establishing lifelong pair bonds during their first winter. Nest initiation occurs from April through August, a period approximately one month longer than prairie nesting ducks. Black-bellies nest in tree cavities and, similar to wood ducks, also have adapted to nesting in boxes. Where tree cavities are lacking, black-bellies will nest on the ground, often in grasses at the base of small trees or shrubs. Females lay an average of 13 eggs and both sexes incubate the eggs. Experiments have revealed that removal of either the female or the male during incubation results in abandonment of the nest. Apparently, participation of both the male and female is necessary for the nesting attempt to be successful. Black-bellies enjoy relatively high nest success rates (an average of 45 percent) compared to prairie nesting ducks. Most nest failures are caused by raccoons, rat snakes and golden-fronted woodpeckers.
How many molts does a whistling duck have?
As with geese and swans, the plumage of both sexes of whistling ducks are very similar. They only have one molt (in contrast to two molts in the "true ducks"); both parents share in the brooding of the young; and pairs mate for life. They also are distinguished by their appearance and behaviors in the field.
Where do Fulvous whistling ducks nest?
Fulvous whistling ducks nest in rice fields and in wetlands, usually over water among water-tolerant grasses and sedges. Females lay 12 eggs on average, and both sexes incubate the eggs. Unlike most species of waterfowl, fulvous and black-bellied whistling ducks do not add down to their nest bowls.
Where do whistling ducks migrate?
In October, flocks move to coastal marshes where they feed predominantly on the seeds of aquatic vegetation. In November, a general exodus occurs to the east and west coasts of Mexico, where the birds spend the winter on coastal lagoons and rice fields. Comprehensive population surveys of whistling ducks are lacking.
How do you attract a whistling duck?
In some areas (such as coastal Texas), feeding of this species has become popular, with landowners tossing out corn near ponds to attract hundreds of whistling-ducks.
What does a whistling duck look like?
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are dark overall: a chestnut breast and black belly are set off by a bright-pink bill and legs, grayish face, and broad white wing stripe, also visible in flight. Immatures are duller than adults, with a dark bill, pale breast, and mottled black belly.
How long do whistling ducks live?
In the wild, the black-bellied whistling duck has a lifespan of about 6-8 years, while in captivity, it can live for more than ten years.
Why are they called whistling ducks?
Description. Whistling ducks are found in the tropics and subtropics. As their name implies, they have distinctive whistling calls. The whistling ducks have long legs and necks, and are very gregarious, flying to and from night-time roosts in large flocks.
Do whistling ducks roost in trees?
Like wood ducks, black-bellied whistling ducks nest in tree cavities and will also use manmade nest boxes.
What duck has an orange bill?
In general, black-bellied whistling ducks are long-legged, long-necked and the most erect of all ducks. They have a black belly with a chestnut nape, lower neck, chest, and back. A chestnut cap tops the head. They boast a bright orange bill, gray face, and upper neck and white eye ring.
Can you shoot black-bellied whistling ducks in Louisiana?
For example, up to six gadwall, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, shovelers, ring-necked ducks and black-bellied whistling ducks can be taken in a total daily bag of six ducks.
Overview
Behavior and ecology
The black-bellied whistling duck is a common species that is "quite tame, even in the wild". It is highly gregarious, or social, forming large flocks when not breeding, and is largely resident apart from local movements. It usually nests in hollow trees (in South America many times in palm trees). The habitat is quite shallow freshwater ponds, lakes, and marshes, cultivated land or reservoirs with plentiful vegetation, where this duck feeds mainly at night on seeds and other pla…
Taxonomy
In 1751 the English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and a description of the black-bellied whistling duck in the fourth volume of his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. He used the English name "The red-bill'd whistling duck". Edwards based his hand-coloured etching on a live bird kept at the home of Admiral Charles Wager in Chelsea, London. Edwards was told that the bird had come from the West Indies. When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus upda…
Description
The black-bellied whistling duck is a mid-sized waterfowl species. Length ranges from 47 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in), body mass from 652 to 1,020 g (1.437 to 2.249 lb) and wingspan ranges from 76 to 94 cm (30 to 37 in). It has a long red 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 ar…
Distribution and 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.
Seven adults and eight ducklings were observed on west side of Lake Apopka, Central Florida o…
Status and conservation
The black-bellied whistling duck is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); its global population is estimated at 1,100,000–2,000,000 birds and increasing.
Gallery
• In Tobago
• Black-bellied whistling ducks rarely move long distances, but these birds were seen near Saltsburg in Pennsylvania. They may be vagrants or escaped from aviculture.
• Black-bellied whistling ducks on a manmade nest box in Central Florida
Sources
• Bencke, Glayson Ariel (2007): Avifauna atual do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: aspectos biogeográficos e distribucionais ["The Recent avifauna of Rio Grande do Sul: Biogeographical and distributional aspects"]. Talk held on 2007-JUN-22 at Quaternário do RS: integrando conhecimento, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. PDF abstract
• Bull, John; Farrand, John Jr. (1977). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (Eastern Region). New Yo…