Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

Identification & Behavior: ~50.5 cm (19.8 in). Sexes are alike.  The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a long-legged duck. They have pale grey upper neck and head, with a red bill and white eye-ring.  The body is mostly rich brown and gray with a black belly. Extensive white in the wings is obvious in flight. Juveniles are similar but have a grey bill and less contrasting belly. See other closely related ducks including the Fulvous Whistling Duck and White-faced Whistling Duck.

Status: The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a rare resident in Tumbes in rice fields and pools in mangrove forests. Also, it is apparently a resident in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. There are scattered sight records of this species in high Andean Lakes and coastal wetlands.

Name in Spanish: Pato-Silbón de Vientre Negro.

Sub-species: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) (Linnaeus, 1758).

Meaning of Name: Dendrocygna: Gr. dendros= tree; and cygna, cygnus= related to a swan.  autumnalis: L. autumnus, autumni= fall.  An arboreal swan-like duck of the fall season.

See more of the Family Anatidae