Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was removed from the LBRC Review List on 31 Mar 1990

Accepted Records

One sex unknown juvenile (1970-07) on 26 November 1970, Bossier: approximately 5 mi. N of Bossier City, section 34, township 19N, range 13W; Scott Sealy and Paul M. Dickson (LSUMZ 69137). This is the first state record of a presumed “wild individual.”

One (1980-010) on 2 November 1980, St. Charles: Norco. This report included details for one individual examined by the reporter of three birds shot b y a hunter. The eyewitness description of the dead bird was very rudimentary and left a lot to the imagination. The report indicated that the specimen had been retained as a taxidermy mount, but there were no specific details that would allow follow-up. Provenance was also a consideration given introduction attempts at Rockefeller Refuge in years prior to this report, and plumage details did not exclude the South American subspecies sometimes held in captivity. Following the Discussion Round vote two members voted to accept, four to accept Origin Hypothetical, and three not to accept because they did not believe the description rose to the threshold for acceptance.

A flock of seven (1984- 82), all believed to be adult, on the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron Parish, on 15 December 1984 (S. O. Williams). Louisiana observers should be on the lookout for this species; it may appear in our state with increasing frequency following population increases in east Texas (see American Birds 38:221, 1984; American Birds 39:76, 1985).

One in adult plumage (1988-11; was 89-11) on 9 Apr. 1988, Jefferson Davis: SSW Jennings, 4.6 mi. S Hwy. 1126 on Parish Rd. 2-11; Steven W. Cardiff & Donna L. Dittmann. Imhof (1988) reported that this individual was also present on 16 Apr. 1988. The 16 Apr. observation was, however, from a different locality and has never been submitted.

Six (1988-83; 89-137) on 10 Feb. 1988, Cameron: Lacassine N.W.R.; David P. Muth, Gwen Smalley, Cecil Kersting (ducks reported to observers by BB (AB 42(2):275).

Nine (1988-17) on 7 May 1988, Cameron: 2nd Bayou field, north of Holly Beach; Norton Nelkin, Robert D. Purrington (erroneously reported as 6 May in AB 42(3):445).

Ten to twelve individuals (89-126) on 28 Apr. 1989, Cameron: Lacassine N.W.R.; Paul McKenzie, David Muth, D. Bruce Crider, Nancy L. Newfield, SN, John McBride; David P. Muth, B. Mac Myers III, Richard Jeffers. Seventy individuals were reported in AB 43(3):492.

Two (89-125) on 3 Jun. 1989, Cameron: Lacassine N.W.R.; Alfred E. Smalley.

One female (1984-26) on 22 Apr 1984, Cameron: 1 mi. N of Lacassine NWR, just E of Lacassine Bayou, R4W, T11S (LSUMZ 113461, Tristan J. Davis*); AB38(5):921 indicated date as “21 Apr” and that this was one of “ten individuals… with thousands of Fulvous Whistling- Ducks.”

Forty-seven mixed adults and juveniles (1988-089) on 18 December 1988, Evangeline: Cazan’s Lake, ca 9 mi. N Ville Platte; William R. Fontenot.

Eleven adults (1989-117) on 26 December 1989, Evangeline: Cazan’s Lake, ca 9 mi. N Ville Platte; William R. Fontenot.