Seen in south and central America, most of coastal Mexico and extreme southern US coast. Although a tropical bird, it is a summer breeding resident in south Texas, Louisiana and expanding northward.

In the US, it can be seen year-round in peninsular Florida, southeast Texas, coastal Alabama and Mississippi and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and coastal Louisiana.

It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There are several hundred that winter each year at New Orleans, Louisiana in the Audubon Park.

Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, in the southern USA, it is just known as the whistling duck or Mexican squealer.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks nest in thickets or stands of mesquite, hackberry, willow, live oak, and other trees. They forage in fields, lawns, and shallow, freshwater ponds that often contain water hyacinth, water lilies, and cattails.

In the tropics, they also use mangroves, rivers, and lagoons. Also seen dropping onto golf course ponds.

A large boisterous goose like duck, with a long neck, long legs and short tail. Dark overall with a chestnut breast, black belly, and bright pink bill and legs. The face is gray and the wings have a broad white strip visible in flight

These ducks do have a whistle for their call.