The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck: Nature's Quirkiest Waterfowl?

[@StarTexaspets]

My neighbor in Houston has a front yard pond that's taken over by these guys every year. So funny looking! And sounding!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

That sounds exactly like something they would do!

[@cathy1944]

I had 4 of these in my backyard tonight. I had never seen one before. So beautiful.

[@Stigz34]

Same

[@ROCKOLA79]

I've got one in my backyard right now under my bird feeder eating some birdfeed on the ground! Mulberry,fl 🤗

[@hairiestwizard]

Nothing like hearing dozens flying overhead and having Merlin be useless until they leave lol

[@lindaeshbach6494]

Those ducks are so cute! I hope one day to see some. They sound nice too. I want to thank you for all you show us! I really appreciate birds more since I retired and am around home more. ❤

[@chriskeller3705]

they are EVERYWHERE in the houston, TX area

[@nice2care]

Yes, they are in my backyard right now!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Awesome! Very cool birds

[@michaelmcculley7880]

I love the whistle as they fly by or when they sit up in the trees calling each other.

[@alosplanetas]

I saw a parking lot FULL of black bellied whistling ducks back in Houston TX. One of the coolest bird things I ever saw there!

[@gemmavogelaar1151]

I had the rare pleasure of seeing 1 last year. In Ontario Canada, they are not common so it was such a treat. Definitely the cutest duck I’ve ever seen! Thank you for this and all your amazing videos. 🎉🎉🎉

[@robertdrinnon3583]

We have a pair that nests in a cavity in an oak tree in our backyard in Savannah, GA. Ben coming for several years now. What a treat! Just spotted them today for the first time this year!

[@verthosand]

We actually had a flock come to Maine last year. They were so cool to see.

[@ABirdersParadise]

I had never seen the babies. They're adorable!

[@carolynriley8883]

I’m in South Mississippi and these cute ducks come to my bird feeders. I feed the mommas that have babies around our ponds, especially this very dry year.

[@stevehaller6332]

I live in the delta region of Arkansas and have been having them come in the yard and eat the corn on the ground the squirrels leave after the squirrels drop it. I go through a 50 pound bag of corn a week for the squirrels and the dove, whistling ducks, and other birds eat the corn on the ground.

[@olenskafanboy]

One of the first birds I learned when I started birding because they're very common in lakes and ponds here in Central Florida. I can hear them flying over at nights sometimes, too. Cool birds and can be pretty funny to watch.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

I photographed a flight of six of them passing through Clarksville, Tenn a couple of years ago. They didn't stop and kept going west along the Cumberland River.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@cliftonwhittaker260 nice!

[@Grateful_Dad_54]

Last summer there were 6 hanging out near a farm pond in Western Wisconsin. I saw them again this Spring once, but not since then. Cool-looking birds!

[@dashbugg]

handsome little fellows!!! great video 💚

[@stevenz933]

Just saw three of them at a retention pond near my home (Clearwater, FL)

[@billsenkowsky2500]

We had two show up here in East Texas and threw out chicken scratch now we get 30+ daily and they now gather a daybreak. They are amazing and the ducks in a row is true. When I hear their whistle I’m cool. Your video is great.

[@GratefulDeb270]

Adorable! Ty! ❤

[@caren9790]

I love these guys whenever I visit the South.

[@Dogcrazylady]

I am obsessed with these ducks

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

I've never seen a black-bellied whistling duck, but they are very interesting.

[@Beryllahawk]

Oh hey! I do know these ducks! Never knew the correct name though, haha - I saw a group of them in New Orleans, making quite a racket, and wondered what they were. This was a choir trip many years ago, so I was with a pretty big group of people, and one of the guys told me "oh those are just Cajun Funky Brown Ducks." Of course I took that at face value, hah! I suppose he was pleased to trick me!

[@chriskeller3705]

I love these guys

[@BadgerlandBirding]

They’re pretty cool!

[@rerolley]

If you think Black-Bellies are quirky, you should see Flightless Steamer ducks.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Haha the REAL quirkiest Duck

[@vbienek8649]

I built a house next to my pond & put up a bird feeder in my front yard, which sits only yards from the water's edge. Out of the blue, 2 mos ago [Sept. 7th] a sweet fam. of 6 black-bellied whistling ducks (mom, dad & 4 ducklings) showed up one morning snacking on leftover mealworms and sunflower seeds on the ground. 😢Sadly a predator must have got one of the babies but the remaining 5 ducks have hung out at my place- growing big & strong, learning how to fly recently. No surprise, yesterday I didn't see them at all. I knew they'd only be here for a short while. What a blessing it was to watch these beautiful creatures develop & mature right in front of my eyes! I love their whistle❤

[@Lela-plants]

We have a flock in my neighborhood of townhomes. lol they started a few years ago as a pair and now they come en masse and sit on a roof to watch the sunset

[@Emmandruss]

Just seen a group of them along with our Muscovy ducks in Barbados !

[@lisapolanski9379]

What are some of the best birding spots in Louisiana? I'll be driving through Louisiana in December.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Which part of Louisiana?

[@lisapolanski9379]

Thanks, I just replied above

[@KateFrancis-eo2rp]

Yes I have seen one, three actually! They are in the UK now!

[@lucky83incredible]

there is a large group of them where I am staying in North Fort Myers! very cute but noisy

[@establ]

They are really common in Sun City Center Florida where my parents live. They seem to fly in flocks at night and whistle. I've also seen them perched on power lines. Strange behavior for a duck.

[@JohnRobirds-j8n]

Common here in central Florida almost in very pond in our housing area in Wesley Chaple Fl.

[@margaretbeier8519]

38 yesterday in my backyard. This morning 48 of them. They don't fly away when we're outside. They like cracked corn. Don't feed them bread. Not good for them. Fun watching them.

[@debbiegustin7267]

Had a pair in the backyard. Clermont Florida

[@lukeocasio2784]

Great vid guys

[@lisapolanski9379]

From New Orleans through Baton Rouge up to Natchez MS on HWY 61North then across to Natchitoches LA then back down on HWY 117 South & 171 South to Lake Charles (then getting on the 10 freeway to San Antonio from there.) I would love to see a Roseate Spoonbill and other species we don't get in California.

[@dstrick1001]

At least 500 in Santa Rosa Beach Fla right now.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Very cool!

[@elainemartin7141]

Handsome ducks!

[@OrnithologyInsights]

The name whistling duck is very funny in my opinion and a very cool looking bird. I heard these ducks actually do whistle is that true?

[@sarabf01]

I have a mating pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks that have made a nest inside the tree trunk of one of my palm trees that froze. They have at least 20 eggs in their nest. The problem is my Magnolia Creek HOA has given me until May 5, 2024 to cut down and remove said tree trunk. I posted pictures of the ducks and a video of the nest with the 20 something eggs in it on Facebook looking for help to save these ducks. I have already been fined $75 by the HOA despite the fact that the deadline hasn't even expired. If you can help in anyway it would be appreciated.

[@AkshinJaxon]

Spotted some in San Marcos Texas in May 2024

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Awesome! They’re always fun to see

[@williaml1274]

First nice vid

[@BadgerlandBirding]

🥇

[@pauraque]

you really need a comma in that