Dendrocygna arborea

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	ANSERIFORMES	ANATIDAE

Scientific Name:

Dendrocygna arborea

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Black-billed Wood-duck, Cuban Tree-duck, West Indian Tree-duck, West Indian Whistling-duck, West Indian Whistling Duck, West Indian Whistling-Duck
Spanish	–	Pato Silbón de Cuba, Suirirí Yaguaza

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Sorenson, L.

Justification:
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small and severely fragmented range within which it is hunted, and the area, extent and quality of remaining habitat is undergoing a continuing decline, with populations at some sites disappearing altogether. However, there is evidence that the species may now be increasing, and if this were confirmed it may qualify for downlisting to Near Threatened.

History:

2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Dendrocygna arborea historically ranged throughout the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK), Cuba, Cayman Islands (to UK), Jamaica, Haiti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico (to USA), Virgin Islands (to UK), Virgin Islands (to USA), St Kitts and Nevis (only an occasional visitor in the past and future records unlikely due to habitat deterioration⁶), Antigua and Barbuda, and Guadeloupe (to France). Breeding populations are known to exist in the Bahamas (at least 1,500 birds), Turks and Caicos, Cuba (at least 14,000), Cayman (800 - 1,200 and thought to be stable), Jamaica (500 and stable), Dominican Republic (six populations¹), Puerto Rico (100 and stable?), and Antigua (500) and Barbuda (50)^,5,7.
Countries:	Native: Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Cayman Islands; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; Puerto Rico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Turks and Caicos Islands; Virgin Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S. Vagrant: Anguilla; Barbados; Bermuda; Dominica; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Netherlands Antilles
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Ottenwalder (1997), L.G. Sorenson in litt. (2007), L. Mugica in litt (2007) Staus (1997)
Population Trend:	Increasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This secretive, non-migratory duck is crepuscular or nocturnal and generally considered site faithful, but it will wander in search of water and good habitat during periodic drought ^2,9,10,12. During the day, singles, pairs or flocks (up to 100) roost and possibly feed in mangroves, reeds and swampy areas^2,5. At dusk, birds fly to fresh, brackish, and salt ponds, lagoons, ephemeral wetlands, tidal flats and agricultural fields (rice and corn) to feed (usually in small flocks), returning to roost-sites just before dawn⁹. Scrub and coppice are important nesting habitats; birds often nest on offshore cays^2,9,12. The nest is usually in a cluster of palm fronds, a clump of bromeliads, on a branch, in a tree-cavity, or in a leaf-lined scrape on the ground^2,9,11. Breeding has been recorded in virtually all months, but peaks in the summer^10,11,12.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

This secretive, non-migratory duck is crepuscular or nocturnal and generally considered site faithful, but it will wander in search of water and good habitat during periodic drought ^2,9,10,12. During the day, singles, pairs or flocks (up to 100) roost and possibly feed in mangroves, reeds and swampy areas^2,5. At dusk, birds fly to fresh, brackish, and salt ponds, lagoons, ephemeral wetlands, tidal flats and agricultural fields (rice and corn) to feed (usually in small flocks), returning to roost-sites just before dawn⁹. Scrub and coppice are important nesting habitats; birds often nest on offshore cays^2,9,12. The nest is usually in a cluster of palm fronds, a clump of bromeliads, on a branch, in a tree-cavity, or in a leaf-lined scrape on the ground^2,9,11. Breeding has been recorded in virtually all months, but peaks in the summer^10,11,12.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It has suffered from excessive and under-regulated hunting for subsistence (including eggs) and sport^2,4,10. Wetlands are a very limited habitat in the Caribbean, with continuing conversion primarily for development^2,4,12. More than 50% of remaining wetlands are seriously degraded by the cutting of mangroves and swamp-forest, pollution (chemical runoff from nearby agriculture, sewage, garbage), water mismanagement, and natural catastrophes such as droughts and hurricanes^4,10. Predation by introduced species is inadequately documented, but mongoose, racoons, rats, and feral cats and dogs are known to kill adults and young and eat eggs^4,9.

Major Threat(s):

It has suffered from excessive and under-regulated hunting for subsistence (including eggs) and sport^2,4,10. Wetlands are a very limited habitat in the Caribbean, with continuing conversion primarily for development^2,4,12. More than 50% of remaining wetlands are seriously degraded by the cutting of mangroves and swamp-forest, pollution (chemical runoff from nearby agriculture, sewage, garbage), water mismanagement, and natural catastrophes such as droughts and hurricanes^4,10. Predation by introduced species is inadequately documented, but mongoose, racoons, rats, and feral cats and dogs are known to kill adults and young and eat eggs^4,9.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. It is legally protected throughout much of its range, but law enforcement is inadequate⁴. Since 1997, the West Indian Whistling-duck Working Group of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds has conducted a region-wide public education and awareness programme that provides local teachers and educators with training and educational materials and works to raise awareness and appreciation for the value of local wetlands and wetland biodiversity^5,6,7. The project has also sponsored surveys and worked with decision-makers, community leaders and hunters to reduce poaching and encourage protection of local wetlands, especially via development of "Watchable Wildlife Ponds" - wetlands equipped with interpretive signs and viewing areas where local people, school groups, and tourists can easily observe whistling-ducks and other wildlife^5,6,7. There are several protected areas in the region but, in general, suitable habitat, especially wetlands, is under-represented and many degraded wetlands should be restored². There are plans to establish a re-introduced population on the Virgin Islands (to UK)². Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct extensive surveys to assess numbers and distribution in each country⁵. Assist local authorities in establishing a long-term monitoring programme⁵. Conserve and restore key sites⁵. Establish legal protection in countries where it does not exist and enforce protection in others. Continue public education and awareness programmes⁵.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. It is legally protected throughout much of its range, but law enforcement is inadequate⁴. Since 1997, the West Indian Whistling-duck Working Group of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds has conducted a region-wide public education and awareness programme that provides local teachers and educators with training and educational materials and works to raise awareness and appreciation for the value of local wetlands and wetland biodiversity^5,6,7. The project has also sponsored surveys and worked with decision-makers, community leaders and hunters to reduce poaching and encourage protection of local wetlands, especially via development of "Watchable Wildlife Ponds" - wetlands equipped with interpretive signs and viewing areas where local people, school groups, and tourists can easily observe whistling-ducks and other wildlife^5,6,7. There are several protected areas in the region but, in general, suitable habitat, especially wetlands, is under-represented and many degraded wetlands should be restored². There are plans to establish a re-introduced population on the Virgin Islands (to UK)².

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct extensive surveys to assess numbers and distribution in each country⁵. Assist local authorities in establishing a long-term monitoring programme⁵. Conserve and restore key sites⁵. Establish legal protection in countries where it does not exist and enforce protection in others. Continue public education and awareness programmes⁵.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Dendrocygna arborea. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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