Weekly Chirp: Whistling Duck

What is that up there?  It may look like a duck, but it certainly doesn't sound like a duck and really doesn't act much like a duck either. We've all seen them flying overhead, we've all seen them hanging around in the trees, we've all wondered “what the duck?”!  

The Black Bellied Whistling Duck is about the size of a small goose. It nests and perches in the trees and is quite comfortable maneuvering the canopies.  You will often see them on the tallest bare branch scouting their route from the tree tops.  Standing tall at about 24”, their neck is long as are their colorful legs.  The color scheme, though mostly neutral, is an interesting morphing of tannish-gray heads turning into a brown down their long neck into a chestnut brown body, a black belly and black wings with a contrasting white wing patch. The spatulate bill and long legs are a pretty pinkish-orangish-reddish hue.  The combination is actually quite impressive!  

 They are monogamous and both adults work hard to raise their young.  And though the precocial young are born in an advanced state, able to feed on their own, the parents will tend to them for at least another 3-6 months

The Black Bellied Whistling Duck, commonly called The Mexican Tree Duck or the Whistling Tree Duck are lovely and peaceful looking creatures, but are often seen as clumsy and doofy (goofy doofus).  Perhaps because they look so out of place up in the trees, like they might fall off at any given moment, but do not be fooled, this is their briar patch!  Or, perhaps the insecurity of knowing that Hector or Carl will suddenly crash land onto a crowded branch knocking everyone off into oblivion.