West Indian Whistling Duck
West Indian Whistling Duck by Zanka M.
Scientific Name: Dendrocygna arborea
Other Common Names: West Indian Tree Duck, Black-Billed Wood Duck
Range: Greater & Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas & Turks and Caicos
Habitat: Swamps, lagoons, ponds, mangroves
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Description
The West Indian Whistling Duck is the largest whisting duck of its genus and is endemic to the islands of the West Indies.
It is primarily brown in colour with black and white splecking on its flanks with a long neck, long legs and a black bill.
On average they can get up to 48 - 58 cm tall with females weighing more at 800 - 1320 g than males 760 - 1240g.
Range
It can be found on islands of the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Bahamas and Turks & Caicos.
Habitat
The West Indian Whistling Duck inhabits a variety of wetland habitats whether freshwater or saltwater. It can be found in swamps, mangroves, lagoons or ponds with a lot of tree cover.
Diet
Its diet mostly consists of fruits, berries and seeds. The fruit of the Royal Palm is commonly consumed by the Whistling Duck.
Breeding
In Jamaica, the breeding season for the W.I. Whistling Duck is thought to be all year but varies on other islands.
Behaviour
West Indian Whistling Ducks are primarily nocturnal and roosts during the day in flocks. They are generally scarce but can be seen active at dawn and dusk.
Sound
Loud five - syllable whistle ; ‘pip-pip-pip-weeeeeeaaaaa’
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
West Indian Whistling Duck populations are small and are threatened by many factors such as hunting, predation by invasive species (eg. mongoose and wild dogs), pollution, habitat destruction and severe changes in weather (droughts and flooding).
Current Conservation Efforts
Birds Caribbean has a West Indian Whistling Duck and Wetlands Conservation Program as well as developed Watchable Wildlife Ponds in an effort to educate school groups, teachers and community locals about birds, wetland and the importance of conservation.