Re: Bird ID - Duck with scavenger-like head?
- From: Jack Crenshaw <jcrens@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:59:06 GMT
Where did you ever get the idea that "native" Muscovies are descended from domestic ducks? What is your source?
Jack
maryann kolb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:10:01 GMT, Jack Crenshaw <jcrens@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Malcolm wrote:
In article <1182355597.929096.168090@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, TimeTraveller <GastropodGraphics@xxxxxxxxx> writes
I live in York County, Va, in an area with lots of ponds surrounded by
ducks and geese.
Saw this bird for the first time today, in amongst the duck and geese.
http://thethunderchild.com/Hobbies/RedHeadedDuck.JPG
Plump white body, black wings and back, red head with no feathers on
it. I'd think it was a turkey buzzard, but it carried itself like a
duck...
It's a Muscovy Duck. The wild form occurs naturally in South America and is a black or greenish-black all over apart from some white on the wings. This is a domestic form, which are pretty variable in their plumage - they are widely kept for meat and eggs - and presumably came from some farmyard or pond not too far away, as they aren't normally great fliers.
Yep, it's a Muscovy, alright, with a face only a mother could love. My favorite kind of duck.
Have to disagree with you, though, about the flight. Pure Muscovies are _GREAT_ flyers. Most birds, large or small, fly at speeds around 24-25 mph. Pigeons and Muscovies fly much faster -- 60 mph or more. At first, I asked myself how come they, of all birds, fly so much faster. But I figured it out. It's because they _HAVE_ to. With all that weight, it's either go fast, or don't get off the ground.
Also must disagree about the domestic, farm-oriented sources. In Florida and California -- and perhaps many more places --there are many, many wild Muscovies in all the ponds, rivers, etc. They come and go as they please, and can fly long distances. I raised two sets of babies, and when full grown, they would often boogie off to parts unknown. Once I was out in my back yard (backed up to a lake), and saw this large bird circling the lake up very high (500 ft?), very fast. I thought, "Wow, look at that! An eagle, checking out our lake."
Wasn't an eagle, though he sure flew like one. It was one of my "babies," coming back for a visit.
Why do so many people think Muscovies can't fly? I think it's because they often don't need to. In FL, at least, they tend to congregate in urban parks, ponds, and rivers. They are very comfortable around man, and they get plenty of food, from fish and us benevolent humans. So they feel no need to explore other places.
Jack
The Muscovy ducks you see here in the U.S. in parks and cities are all
decended from domesticated ducks Wild Muscovy Ducks are tropical
birds and can be seen occasionally along the Rio Grande especially
near Falcon Dam. They are much better looking birds!
Mary Ann
Barnwell, SC
.
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