Black-bellied Whistling Duck Watch Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (formerly called Black-bellied Tree Duck) is native to Central America,
from southern US to central South America.
Eggs are laid in tree holes. Male and female have similar plumage.
There are two subspecies, the northern autumnalis and
the southern discolor , which overlap in Central America.
The discolor subspecies, has a grey breast rather than rust-colour.
Bills normally pink with orange bridge; the black on bills and feet above is dirt.
Also called "Watch Ducks" in the Americas as semi-tame groups give shrill alarm calls to warn of intruders,
as geese do in Europe. These above are autumnalis subspecies with rust-coloured breast
(discolor subspecies is shown, eg, in first photo, top row, left).