This bird is found in tropical South America and Africa south of the Sahara. It does not migrate across the Atlantic Ocean so the separation may have taken place when the two continents were much closer together or it may have been a small group of birds colonising one continent from the other.

It can be found in wetlands normally within the tropics and feeds on vegetation, seeds, fruits and small invertebrates.

There are more photos on the Black-bellied Whistling-duck page.