Dendrocygna autumnalis FULGENS
Status: Rare regular summer visitor southeast. Rare casual breeder southeast.
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM16079, 29 Oct 1989 Hansen WPA, Clay Co (Labedz 1990; Grenon 1990).
Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized, one of which occurs in North America, D. a. fulgens (Gill et al 2022).
Changes since 2000: Of the 70+ records, only three occurred prior to 2000, clearly an increase in occurrence for this southern species that is now regular in occurrence in summer.
Summer: There are about 80 records, ranging from 12 Apr-7 Jan. There are only seven Apr records, earliest 12 Apr 2025 Valley Co, 13 Apr 2020 Garfield Co, 15 Apr 2017 Saunders Co, and 16 Apr 2024 (2) Rock Co. In fall, latest are 1-9 Dec 2010 Douglas Co, early Dec-30 Dec 2008 Pier Park, Grand Island, Hall Co, and 1-7 Jan 2024 North Park, Phelps Co.
There are four reports of breeding with tangible evidence. A pair with ducklings incapable of flight were at Funk WPA, Phelps Co on the rather late date 28 Sep 2019 (Krechmer, eBird.org); two adults and nine juveniles were photographed there 15 Oct (Brogie et al, eBird.org). A female laid a clutch of 11 eggs in a Wood Duck box around 15 Aug 2020 on the Levi Krause property east of Louisville, Cass Co; the hen departed the nest with three of the young 14 Sep (fide Mike Remund). The third documented breeding record was of a pair with two ducklings on the west lagoon at Duncan WTP, Platte Co 12 Aug; the ducklings were last reported 10 Sep, and adults through 22 Sep, best tally of adults five during Aug-Sep (eBird.org, accessed Oct 2024). The fourth record was of a pair with at least 12 ducklings near Imperial, Chase Co around 10 Aug 2024 (Scott Fesmire, personal communication, photos).
A credible report of breeding was of a brood seen and well described by Matthew Walker about three miles east of Rising City, Butler Co 1 Sep 2020 (fide T. J. Walker).
Most records are from the south-central and southeast. The westernmost records are of a group of eight photographed on 1-3 Jun 2017 at Bridgeport, Morrill Co, 1-2 on 1-9 Jun 2012 in Lincoln Co, and 12-15 at Imperial, Chase Co 4-5 May with one still there 12 May. The northernmost records are of a group of eight at Atkinson, Holt Co 21 Oct 2017, three there 19-23 Jun 2018 (Brogie 2019), five in Knox and Cedar Cos 16 Nov 2019, and two in Rock Co 16 Apr 2024.
The provenance of a flock of 19, consisting of two adults and 17 immatures, near Holdrege, Phelps Co 24 Oct 2009 is not known; there were reports the same year of 5-7 free-flying adults on top of duck pens at two different waterfowl breeders in Hall Co. A group of 16 was photographed on a rooftop about 15 miles south of Holdrege 6 May 2015, not far from the 2009 sighting of 19 birds. A group 0f 12-15 was at Imperial, Chase Co 4-5 May 2025 and 14 were at Columbus, Platte Co 25 Apr 2023.
Images
Abbreviations
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WMA: Waterfowl Management Area (State)
WPA: Waterfowl Production Area (Federal)
Literature Cited
Brogie, M.A. 2011. 2010 (22nd) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 79: 99-111.
Brogie, M.A. 2019. 2018 (30th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 87: 96-109.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
Grenon, A.G. 1990. 1990 Third report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 58: 90-97.
Labedz, T.E. 1990. A Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck specimen from Nebraska: a first state record. NBR 58: 49-52.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2025. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 31 May 2025, map updated 21 Oct 2024