[leasbirds] Black-bellied Whistling (Tree) Duck
- From: WILLIAM WENTHE <wwenthe@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 23 May 2014 07:11:32 -0700 (PDT)
Hi All,
After posting my previous message I went and observed the duck from a little
after 8 am to 8:25, at which point a guy with two dogs frightened it off (not
intentionally). I waited five minutes to see if it might return, but it was
flying pretty much in a beeline in the direction of Clapp Park. That is,
straight southeast of Tech Terrace Park. I took some photos, but it will take
a while for me to figure out how to download them from this brand new camera my
wife bought, and which I was fortunately able to figure out enough to take
shots with. The photos won't be great, but I believe they'll clearly enough
show the birds distinctive markings.
Speaking of which, I take comfort in the fact that Sibley's guide prints
"unmistakable" next to its picture of the Black-bellied Whistling Duck (I'm
used to the old name, "Tree Duck." By the way, this is a lifer for me--I've no
prior experience with them; but am aided by the fact that this is hardly a
subtle looking bird.)
With 8 power binoculars I got a detailed look at it, feeding in flooded grass
(it only briefly waded in the pond formed by the rain) perhaps 40 yards away.
I first glimpsed it while driving my daughter to school; I had brought
binoculars because the park was flooded and interesting things have a way of
turning up in Tech Terrace Park when flooded. What struck me first was the
long, stout legs--my first thought was: ibis?? But then I glassed it and saw
it was a Black-bellied Whistling Duck. Here's the description I noted while
observing it later, at leisure, and at closer distance:
Most apparent: The black belly, starting midway at the belly and extending
rearward. The gray cheek. The clown-orang-red beak. The long legs, light
pink. Dark eye with light but quite observable eye-ring. Rich brown back and
front part of belly. White and light brown edge to folded wing. When it flew
away, the white wing-stripes were bold and unmistakable.
Closer observations: The beak is actually two-toned: the very tip is grayish.
The top of the head is kind of flat, and showed at times a kind of crested
look--maybe this effect had to do with the fact it was raining. Also, when it
faced away from me, I could see the brown on the top of the head extended in a
kind of line down the back of the neck to the back. The brown back and breast
were not so uniform as shown in Sibley: it got lighter as it approached the
black belly, and there was a distinctive beige-brown tinge just before the
black belly. Also, the back (by which I mean all that is seen when wings are
folded, that is, the back and folded wings) shaded from a full brown to a
lighter, more buffy brown, then the wing edge of white and very light brown.
When the dogs first appeared on other side of pond, and some other ducks
(mallard) flew overhead, this duck vocalized. Gave me a little performance,
about 8 times. It was a whistling call, but hoarse compared to, say, widgeon
or teal. It's syllables were like this: pip-PEEEP-pip-pip-pip-pip. One very
short note then the loud longer higher note, then four very short notes.
Again, it left the park at 8:25, heading southeast. Clapp? Canyon Lakes?
Also note that I didn't see it swim at all: it was walking on flooded grass,
rather vigorously pulling things out of there; then it waded in the shallow
edge of the pond, then headed back up the grass.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I hope others get to see it
because it's a pretty handsome bird.
Bill
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