What kind of ducks?

[Hoosky1143]

Medic911 is correct.Black Bellied Whistlers.

They spend summers on the pond behind my house.I have probably taken 2000 pics of them over the last 4 years.Very interesting birds.They tend to spend most of the time on the ground or in very shallow(2"-4")water.I have never seen one actually swimming in the deeper water.They also have precision landing abilities,like no other duck I have seen.More like a helicopter and less like a fighter jet.They can land on the top of my iron fence with no problem.They are very used to humans here,and will let you approach to a fairly close range without spooking.

Heres a few pics I have here,my archive is at a different computer.

[Ted]

Here's a link for identifying Ducks that may help in the future:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/duckdist/index.htm

[FarFromHome]

Great pics.

[Hoosky1143]

Thanks,FarFromHome.

Ken-You are right about them expanding their range.I talked to a biologist and he said the ducks on my pond in Arlington are over 100 miles north of the normal range.

Dennisofms-The word you are looking for is "Pichihuili"

[Atfulldraw]

I thought it had a Mexican cuss word in the name....I really thought it was a slang for them....

We call them (Mother-Loving) Mexican Whistlers

They will suck a deer feeder dry

[tuthdoc]

They can really be a pain during the season when they converge on chum in giant flocks. they seem to fly around and scare the deer on purpose and then sit in the corn. We have them as far north as san Angelo. there was a time when you didn't see them in Texas by the time regular duck season opened. I always wanted to kill one when we hunted Champion Lake in the old days, but they were rare. There was a 1 whistler limit back then. They ended up doing about the same thing as whitewings. They expanded further and further north. last time I hunted Anahuac NWR I killed 3 in one barrage.

I've eaten quite a few of them. They ain't teal, but I didn't find them to be bad at all. They are actually a closer relative to the swan than a duck.

[Tmag]

In about 10 months you can put them in the gumbo pot!

[dennisomfs]

...thanx Hoosky...I figured someone would know!

[Tuffbroadhead]

Thats a feeder molesting duck, I have only heard them called Mexican Squealer ducks, but it is nice to see what they are really called, LOL!!!

[Hafernick]

If you catch them up here early enough you can shoot em during duck season and they are acctually pretty tasty

[Sticks&Strings]

tuffb, I have heard them called other things, but I am with you on calling them Mexican Squealers.

[duck'n]

I find them to be one of the better tasting ducks. They are more particular in their diet (much like a wood duck) than alot of other, more "flashy" ducks. We concentrate on them hard down here when they are around. If you can get on them, it really helps add to the bag. They don't seem as skittish either which is always nice. Dang, I think I have one bag of ducks left...may have to thaw it out for Easter now!

[bundyducks]

them there are mexican squeelers. in my neck of the woods. the only duck with white meat.