black bellied whistling duck!

no pictures as i do not want to disturb them but i have a pair here. i had been seeing a large flock of these unknown ducks up the road at another small lake and was trying to figure out what they were. they are rather odd looking. a couple of days ago, a pair flew in and have stayed at our lake's edge. from what i've read, they prefer nesting in old tree cavities but will nest on the ground if they have no other choice. i don't know if and where they are nesting but it is a treat to see them.

Had to look that up...look like very cool ducks!

Congrats track!!

thanks! i've learned that they are in the 'dabbler' class of ducks. my books shows different stances for ducks in a standing position so that helped me narrow the field. they are rather goose like in appearance with bright orangey/rose bills, legs and feet. the coloring is pretty spectacular too. not in the way of a wood duck but the browns, chestnuts, tans and black coupled with the white on the wings is pretty cool.

resin, i'm going by the info in A Field Guide to the Birds (R.T. Peterson) and ducks are shown from a side view. whistlers and tree ducks are both put into this "dabbler" group. i didn't mean that dabbler was a genus or species, just that it helped me to identify the bird and i think that it what the author meant also.

i finally got some pictures. they aren't great but i haven't wanted to get too close.

another. the ripples are from a jet ski and we just got 23.50 inches of rain since last sunday so the yard is a little flooded now.

one more.

Oh my gosh....did all that rain drown out the nest? Are they still around?

~edited for spelling~

This message was edited Jun 6, 2009 7:00 PM

This message was edited Jun 6, 2009 7:01 PM

hi birdie, yes they are still around but they nest in trees so the nest would be safe. i'm not sure that this pair are nesting here though because i see them both every day.

i've been trying to get a picture of the wings outspread and when i finally had my chance, i flubbed it pretty much.

here it is though. they are really a beautiful duck.

Oh Wow!! What beaautiful wings! I hope to see more pics when you get them!!
I didn't know ducks nested in trees...gee whiz, what a surprise!

they nest in holes/cavities of dead trees or snags although i've heard these will nest on the ground in a pinch.

Well now, I hadn't even thought of a duck being a cavity nester. Not many ducks around my house. Never really thought about a duck doing anything other than nesting like a goose, or uh ....like a yellow duck. they nest on the ground don't they?

you mean a pekin duck? yes, they're ground nesters. wood ducks nest in cavities too and when the babies hatch, they just leap out of the tree or box onto the ground. it's quite something to see.

OH my gosh...where is my mind!!? I remember seeing Duck houses advertised, now that I actually read your words and my brain starts clicking. I'm gonna have to find some video of some duckling chicks and see them lined up and diving out!
That must be quite a sight! At least they have a softer landing (hopefully) on water. Not being near any lakes or ponds, really havn't given much thought to duck babies.
Sure have wetted my whistle for learnin more now though! ^_^

having just watched 17 Wood ducklings fledge anter googling it, I am thououghly hooked. that was just about the brvest thing I can imagine, scaling a wall and then jumping into the air to drop ........
Daves garden is just the greatest place!!................ except behind Mama Duck ^_^

*wink* nothing beats nature!