Dendrocygna autumnalis FULGENS
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM16079, 29 Oct 1989 Hansen WPA, Clay Co (Labedz 1990; Grenon 1990).
Status: Uncommon regular summer visitor Platte and North Platte river valleys southward, rare casual elsewhere. Rare casual breeder southeast.
Status trends: The specimen cited above is the first state record. Second documented record was in 1999, and since then there have been over 100 records.
Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized, one of which occurs in North America, D. a. fulgens (AviList 2025).
Summer: Apr 12, 13, 13 <<<>>> Aug 22, 23, 24
Later dates (excluding breeding records cited below for Phelps and Platte Cos) are 7 Sep 2018 Lancaster Co, 26 Sep 2025 Cuming Co, 7 Oct 2022 Clay Co, 8 Oct 2012 Phelps Co,16 Nov 2019 Gavin’s Point Dam area, Cedar and Knox Cos, 21 Nov-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 now (Nov 2025) over 100 records ranging from 12 Apr-7 Jan.
The specimen cited above is the first state record. Second documented record was of two adults at North Harvard Basin #1, Clay Co 2-3 Aug 1999, presumably the same two as those at North Hultine WPA, Clay Co 21-28 Aug 1999 (Silcock 1999, Jorgensen 2001, 2003). Two additional records, not submitted to NOURC, are of six near Ong, Clay Co 15 Apr 1990 (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission files), and two near Denton, Lancaster Co 26 May 1993 (Cochran and Cochran 1993).
There are six 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 small brood was photographed in Dodge Co 24 Aug 2025 (fide Eric Bents, personal communication, photos). A brood of 8-9 with a pair of adults was at Imperial, Chase Co 28 Jul 2026 (Nadine Bishop, personal communication).
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 2025 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.
- High counts: 32 at Plum Creek Park, Dawson Co 21 Apr 2026, 17 there 18-20 Jul 2025, 15 at Imperial, Chase Co 4-5 May 2025, 14 at Columbus, Platte Co 25 Apr 2023, and 14 at Plum Creek Park 21 Jun 2026.
Images
Abbreviations
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WMA: Waterfowl Management Area (State)
WPA: Waterfowl Production Area (Federal)
Literature Cited
AviList Core Team, 2025. AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025.<.p>
Brogie, M.A. 2019. 2018 (30th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 87: 96-109.
Cochran, D., and C. Cochran. 1993. Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. NBR 61: 136.
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.
Jorgensen, J.G. 2001. 1999 (Eleventh) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 69: 85-93.
Jorgensen, J.G. 2003. 2001 (13th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 71: 97-102.
Labedz, T.E. 1990. A Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck specimen from Nebraska: a first state record. NBR 58: 49-52.
Silcock, W.R. 1999. Fall Field Report, August to November, 1999. NBR 67: 118-139.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2026. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 5 Aug 2026, map updated 21 Oct 2024