West Indian Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna arborea

SSP Coordinator:

Mindy Rabideau, Tracy Aviary 

Vice Coordinator:

Ian Shelley, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

The West Indian whistling duck (Dendrocygna arborea) is a medium-sized waterfowl native to the Caribbean islands and is classified as Vulnerable in the wild due to habitat loss and small, fragmented populations. It inhabits coastal wetlands, including mangroves, lagoons, freshwater ponds, and marshes, often roosting in dense vegetation near water. This species is primarily herbivorous, feeding on seeds, fruits, leaves, and aquatic plants, but it will also eat small invertebrates such as insects and crustaceans when available. The protection of wetland habitats and control of human disturbance are crucial for maintaining and recovering populations of this distinctive Caribbean duck.