Tag Archives: Black-bellied Whistling Duck

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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are Back

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I had been wondering if we would see Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in South Carolina this year; they only starting migrating here from Florida in the last few years.

Last year it was May and June when I got pictures of them last year, although not at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.

On Saturday, in the fog, there they were! Five of them just standing around in a tree in one of Magnolia’s recently cleared swamp areas.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

This morning not far from the above picture these two were soaking up the sun on an Alligator Ramp.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp

A mother Wood Duck and her brood paddled on by.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp

Whistling Ducks are cavity nesters like the Wood Ducks, and may use some of the man-made nest boxes or the tree cavities recently used by the Wood Ducks.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp

I continued on my path and got a little closer view before these two flew off.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on Alligator Ramp

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 15, 2023 & April 20, 2023

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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, More Sedate

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Just a short distance from the Black-bellied Whistling Duck Kerfuffle that I posted last week a few small groups were calmly hanging out.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

This floating mat of vegetation was solid enough to hold up the ducks but there was water around their feet.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

This fellow was doing his own thing, sort of hiding in some taller grass.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

In this group, one duck was on high alert, one was sort of alert and the rest were snoozing.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.

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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks Flying By

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In flight the Black-bellied Whistling Duck shows off a snazzy wing pattern.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

This one opted to leave the pack and head off on his own for a bit…

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

showing off that bright bill, which will look more pink in breeding season.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck In Flight
Black-bellied Whistling Duck In Flight

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.

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Black-bellied Whistling Duck Kerfuffle

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Several groups of 10-20 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were scattered around the first pond at Orlando Wetlands. Most of them were resting or quietly feeding. Then there was this group.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck – cowabunga!

They were creating quite a flap, one or two flying straight up a few feet then wham, dropping into the middle of the group.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

It seems too early in the year to be a breeding/territory thing. And there appeared to be plenty of food to go around.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

A couple of Coots were unperturbed by the action.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

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Trio of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks

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We had been alerted to the presence of these Black-bellied Whistling Ducks by another visitor to the Wildlife Management Area. Sure enough, they were still hanging out in the same spot.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

I walked by them on the dike and they were unfazed.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Their feet are quite adaptable to stand on a variety of uneven surfaces.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

These wooden boxes are installed to support breeding Wood Ducks, but the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have been taking them over the last few years.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022

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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, First Light

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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were hanging out on a series of snags in the first morning light.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks In Tree Snag
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks In Tree Snag

Everyone had their own spot.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck In Tree Snag
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck In Tree Snag

And they weren’t alone.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks In Tree Snag
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and a Hawk In Tree Snag

This snag stands in one of the wetland cells created as part of the city’s water reclamation process.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks In Tree Snag
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks In Tree Snag

Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022

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Peak-a-boo: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

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This was one of those “stop the car, back up” moments as we drove into a wildlife management area and Ted spotted an odd movement.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Peaking Out of Duck Box
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Peaking Out of Duck Box

About then Ted spotted a second duck in the tree above that was quick to fly up onto a nearby stump and show off his pink feet.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

These Black-bellied Whittling Ducks are quite striking with that white wing stripe setting off the brown and black of the body.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

This one spent quite a few minutes poking at the top of the stump. I’m not sure what he was doing, they are mostly vegetarians but will eat insects so he may have been looking for a snack.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
August 29, 2021