West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea)
- HABITAT - West Indian Whistling Ducks can be found across the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and parts of the Lesser Antilles. They prefer freshwater wetlands, mangroves, ponds, lagoons, and swamps. It can also be found in coastal areas and even agricultural lands. They build their nests in dense vegetation, hollow trees, or even on the ground, often near water.
- DIET - West Indian Whistling Ducks are omnivorous, feeding on seeds, aquatic vegetation, insects, and small invertebrates. Mostly nocturnal or crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk), they rest during the day and forage at night.
- FACTS - The West Indian whistling duck is the largest and rarest of the eight species in the Dendrocygna genus. Unlike many ducks, it often perches in trees, hence its species name "arborea," which means "tree-dwelling.".
