Photo: gary_leavens / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 755 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Dendrocygna
- Species autumnalis
Where it lives
Southeastern Texas to northern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 755 g
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA se Texas to n Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 755 g, with a wing length of about 24.1 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Whistling Duck?
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a large bird that weighs around 755 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Whistling Duck live?
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA se Texas to n Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-bellied Whistling Duck belong to?
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Black-bellied Whistling Duck eat?
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Black-bellied Whistling Duck migrate?
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-bellied Whistling Duck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-bellied Whistling Duck make?
4 real field recordings of the Black-bellied Whistling Duck — including its call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-bellied Whistling Duck's range?
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck has a mapped global range of about 9.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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