Normally an expert, but what kind of duckling is this?!? (wild maybe?)

[nettie]

He has such distinct and pronounced black and yellow areas... so confusing! His face/bill don't really look like that of a mallard either.... He's probably only a few days old... I'm finding out more about where he came from, so hopefully that will help...

 

[nettie]

ooh! that does look like him now doesn't it? I was trying to find a picture of a black bellied tree duckling, but couldn't find one... I'm glad you posted one! thanks!

 

[duck walk]

I had two of the Black Bellied Tree Ducks mooching at my duck feeder this morning...I had a real problem with them last year...it started with one, then a pair, then 6 to 8 and it grew until one morning I had 38 of the **** things feeding while my ducks and geese huddled in a corner hungry...they are pretty but very opportunisitc...

 

[nettie]

Any idea on how big they get? They look rather long and skinny, but being a wild breed that flies, i'm guessing they are no more than 2 lbs? maybe the size of an elongated runner?

 

[Sweetfolly]

I dunno why I had the thought to search for them - I've always drooled over the Black Bellied Whistling Ducks at the zoo (they're so quiet compared to mine!).

So cool! Wonder where the person got the duckling though...

 

[nettie]

Quote:
Annmarie, can you post that original one as well? I may have to share that one with the owner of this little guy. I couldn't find it myself when I tried googling for it... I like that one since it has the adult and baby in the same photo...

Thanks for adding those other duckling photos too! He does look like those guys... You guys came back fast on that one wow!

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
Annmarie, can you post that original one as well? I may have to share that one with the owner of this little guy. I couldn't find it myself when I tried googling for it... I like that one since it has the adult and baby in the same photo...

Thanks for adding those other duckling photos too! He does look like those guys... You guys came back fast on that one wow!

Oh, yeah - sorry!

Here it is (and another, just for fun):

I didn't ask permission to use any of these - I figure we're just using them for educational purposes, right?

And...from Wikipedia:
The Black-bellied Whistling-duck is 19-21 in (48–53 cm) long.

From ducks.org:
Average length: M 19.4", F 19"
Average weight: M 1.80 lbs., F 1.85 lbs.

Does that help?

 

[nettie]

I guess they foudn the little guy wandering by himself outside after a huge thunderstorm. They live down in texas, so it makes the black Bellied tree ducks even more likely. There's a stray cat that roams their neighborhood so they brought him in so he wouldn't become lunch. They looked for the duckie family, but to no avail. Good news is they've decided to bring him in and look after him.

Now I have the task of figuring out what size he'll need. I've never made a harness for such an exotic duck before! lol.

 

[duck walk]

yes, Texas is right for the Black Bellied Tree Ducks and that is why I was so surprised to see so many in my duck yard! They are very light and do resemble a runner...kinda long and skinny and they can fly like bandits...I could hear them coming a long way off with their distinctive vocalizations...the ducklings are the cutest things I have ever seen...it was a little disturbing to see my ducks food being purloined but you can't blame them...it was FREE and lots of it!

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

If they are in Texas and have found a Whistler, they should turn it in to a Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation facility. It will be raised with others (probably) and released. I just turned in a lone Wood Duck that a neighbor found a few weeks ago and sure enough they had 9 others brought in that same day. It is illegal to keep migratory birds when found.