Another rare bird is spotted in Ohio. Meet the black-bellied whistling-duck

Another rare bird has been spotted in Ohio, and state wildlife experts believe it's here to stay.

In a Facebook post this week, the Ohio Division of Wildlife reports that black-bellied whistling-ducks have been spotted with ducklings at a wildlife area in Wayne County, southwest of Akron. Previously, a pair of the ducks were confirmed to have been nesting in a small pond on a Wayne County farm in 2022, according to the Columbus Dispatch .

🚨 Rare Bird Alert: Black-bellied whistling ducks have been spotted with ducklings on a wildlife area in Wayne County....

Posted by Ohio Division of Wildlife on Monday, August 19, 2024

Those commenting on the post are sharing their sightings from around the state, posting photos and videos.

Here's what you should know.

Black-bellied whistling-ducks are usually found far from Ohio

Normally found along the Mexican border and Gulf Coast, the black-bellied whistling-duck has been making its way northward, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Audubon calls the duck a "spectacularly marked, sociable, noisy waterfowl." They can be found along the coast of Texas, Florida and Mexico, as well as Central and South America.

They favor ponds or fresh marshes, according to Audubon. Black-bellied whistling-ducks may be attracted to shallow freshwater lakes in open country, but seem to prefer ponds surrounded by trees.

How big are black-bellied whistling-ducks? How to identify them

The birds are about 20 to 22 inches long, according to Audubon, about the size of a mallard duck. Adults have long necks and legs, a color pattern of chestnut, black and gray, and have pink bills. Males and females are similar in appearance, unlike many duck species.

What does a black-bellied whistling-duck sound like?

Audubon describes the duck's songs and calls as "mellow whistles." Audubon's listing for the species has several audio recordings of its "wheezy songs" and alarm calls.

Other rare birds sighted in Ohio

This isn't the first rare bird to find its way to the Buckeye State.

Earlier this summer, a rosette tern was spotted along Lake Erie . The bird, more commonly found along the New England coast and the Caribbean, might have wandered off its migratory flight path or have been blown inland by the remnants of a hurricane.

And in 2020, a brown booby was spotted at the Nimisila Reservoir just outside of Akron, believed to have been blown inland by a hurricane, according to a previous Beacon Journal article. Its typical habitat is the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Another rare bird is spotted in Ohio. Meet the black-bellied whistling-duck