
Black-bellied Tree-Duck
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Dendrocygna autumnalis | [UK] Black-bellied Tree-Duck | [FR] Dendrocygne à ventre noir | [DE] Rotschnabel-Pfeifgans | [ES] Suirirà Piquirrojo | [IT] Dendrocigna beccorosso | [NL] Zwartbuikfluiteend
Physical charateristics
This species, as other tree ducks, is more closely related to geese and swans than to ducks. They have long neck and legs, and broad wings, and both sexes are similar. When in flight, Black-bellied tree-Duck has training wings and rounded wings, making it bigger than it is. Its red bill and legs, and the large white wing patch help to identify the species, and make the difference with the Fulvous Tree-Duck which lacks red bill and black belly.
Black-bellied Tree-Duck has tawny-brown to brown-cinnamon upperparts, turning black on rump and uppertail coverts. Upper wings show a broad white stripe, conspicuous in flight. Flight feathers are black. Underparts are paler. Lower neck and chest are tawny-brown. It has black belly and flanks. Undertail coverts are mottled black and white. Underwings are blackish. Head and upper neck are grey. Crown is dark brown. We can see a dark vertical hind neck stripe. Bill is bright pink-red, often yellowish at base. Eyes are dark brown, with conspicuous white eye ring. Legs and webbed feet are bright pinkish-red.
Both sexes are similar. Juvenile is paler, with grey bill, legs and feet. It has duller plumage than adults, with sooty-brown belly and flanks. It reaches its adult plumage at 8 months of age. Very young birds have very paler belly, with indistinct transversal bars.
Black-bellied Tree-Duck has tawny-brown to brown-cinnamon upperparts, turning black on rump and uppertail coverts. Upper wings show a broad white stripe, conspicuous in flight. Flight feathers are black. Underparts are paler. Lower neck and chest are tawny-brown. It has black belly and flanks. Undertail coverts are mottled black and white. Underwings are blackish. Head and upper neck are grey. Crown is dark brown. We can see a dark vertical hind neck stripe. Bill is bright pink-red, often yellowish at base. Eyes are dark brown, with conspicuous white eye ring. Legs and webbed feet are bright pinkish-red.
Both sexes are similar. Juvenile is paler, with grey bill, legs and feet. It has duller plumage than adults, with sooty-brown belly and flanks. It reaches its adult plumage at 8 months of age. Very young birds have very paler belly, with indistinct transversal bars.
wingspan min.: | 85 | cm | wingspan max.: | 95 | cm |
size min.: | 48 | cm | size max.: | 53 | cm |
incubation min.: | 26 | days | incubation max.: | 31 | days |
fledging min.: | 60 | days | fledging max.: | 65 | days |
broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 8 | ||
eggs max.: | 18 |
Distribution
The Black-bellied Tree-Duck is natural to the Americas. Its distribution to the north includes southern United States (in the states of Texas, Arizona and Louisiana) and northern Mexico (state of Sonora on the Pacific side), although it is usual to see it further north than these limits. Continues its distribution south on both sides of Mexico thru Central America. Some make it to the Antilles in the Caribbean, being considered occasional in Puerto Rico.
In South America this species is native to Colombia, Venezuela, the Amazon Basin, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. West of the Andes it goes as far south as Peru. It is documented in Los Lagos, Chile.
A population descendent of escaped captive birds established in the 1960’s in the state of Florida, United States. In 1931 it was introduced to Cuba in the Zapata Swamp, earlier it had been introduced in Pinar del Rio. Still found in Cuba, although the ones seen could proceed from other places. Also introduce to Jamaica unsuccessfully, although it is seen there in winter and spring.
No sound impression of Black-bellied Tree-DuckIn South America this species is native to Colombia, Venezuela, the Amazon Basin, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. West of the Andes it goes as far south as Peru. It is documented in Los Lagos, Chile.
A population descendent of escaped captive birds established in the 1960’s in the state of Florida, United States. In 1931 it was introduced to Cuba in the Zapata Swamp, earlier it had been introduced in Pinar del Rio. Still found in Cuba, although the ones seen could proceed from other places. Also introduce to Jamaica unsuccessfully, although it is seen there in winter and spring.