black-bellied whistling-duck

noun

variants or black-bellied whistling duck or less commonly black-bellied tree duck
: a chiefly nocturnal whistling-duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) of the southwestern U.S. that has a red bill and pinkish legs and typically perches in trees
black-bellied whistling-ducks dine at night on grain, seeds, insects and mollusks, and shoots found in shallow water.Grant Jefferies, Bradenton (Florida) Herald, 21 Feb. 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black-bellied whistling-duck was in 1981

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Cite this Entry

“Black-bellied whistling-duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-bellied%20whistling-duck. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

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