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Muscovy ducks

Cairina moschata

Photo by suzmonk
Published on Project Noah
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32.3761, -88.6898

Field Notes

Description:

Mating pair of Muscovy ducks at a municipal park. Native to Mexico, Central and South America but also found in many parts of North America. I read that plumage color can vary greatly ... looking at photos online, seems to be true.

Reference Links:

Muscovy Duck - Cairina moschata - Overview, Muscovy Duck

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
suzmonk
Thank you, lori.tas ... I took photos of several different kinds of birds that day, some are posted, some still to come. And I'm reading all about ducks and birds that like the water right now.
lori.tas
The red skin is different on different birds. I had a big white male where it went all the way down his neck, with just the occasional feather sticking out. The males also have a knob on above their bills, called a curuncle. Your photos are very nice, by the way.
suzmonk
What wonderful photos and video, lori.tas, thanks for showing me! Makes me smile ... so energetic! Thanks for the answer about the foam, I was feeling a bit sad that maybe he had an infection. I've been reading up on ducks. One more Muscovy question, and I'll stop. I noticed when the male bent his head, the skin under the white feathers on his neck was also bright red. How far does the bright red skin go?
lori.tas
The foam is common, especially for the males. The prominent red flesh around their eyes seems to make their tears bubble up at times. The males make a (goose-like) hissing sound while bobbing their heads and wagging their tails. Muscovys will interbreed with other ducks, but offspring are sterile hybrids called 'mules'. Your spotting looks like a purebred male. Here are some of my youngsters. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7393786
suzmonk
On the other hand, he was quacking, lori.tas ... maybe just to signal his arrival, he quieted down after that and went about the busines of foraging. I also wondered about something I didn't notice until I had the photos home, the white foam in his eye? Didn't know what to make of that.
suzmonk
Thanks for the info, lori.tas. Interesting bird, I'd never seen one up close.
lori.tas
The are some color and white, or all white. I have pied muscovies in black, blue, lavender, and chocolate at the moment, plus one white female with a tiny bit of black in her crest. They make good ducks for raising at home. The don't quack, and only need enough water for drinking and bathing. Genetically, they are closer to geese than ducks.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the Southeast U.S.
Mission
Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedMarch 10, 2014

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