Muskovy Duck Question

[speckled wood]

A half hearted search of the internet reveals no scientific name associated with the Muskovy Duck, is this duck simply a variety of the mallard that has come to this form after many generations of domestic breeding or does it originate from a different wild species?

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...9/Muskovy0.jpg

[Andy Warne]

Originally Posted by speckled wood

A half hearted search of the internet reveals no scientific name associated with the Muskovy Duck, is this duck simply a variety of the mallard that has come to this form after many generations of domestic breeding or does it originate from a different wild species?

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...9/Muskovy0.jpg

Proper species, Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata, native to Central and South America.

[aeshna5]

The birds seen in farms, parks etc are domesticated versions of the wild Muscovy Duck which is a much sleeker bird, greenish-black with obvious white forewing + not having reddish patch seen on domestic birds. I was fortunate some years back to see a pair of wild birds on southern border of US, in Texas along Rio Grande.

A feral population of Muscovys had become established around Ely, but I believe steps were taken to control them, in case they became another alien problem. They have been known to hybridise with Mallard.

[Airehead]

Originally Posted by speckled wood

A half hearted search of the internet reveals no scientific name associated with the Muskovy Duck,
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...9/Muskovy0.jpg

Try 'Muscovy duck'.

[Alan]

The Muscovy duck is the only domesticated duck not derived from Mallards. If one is crossed with another duck such as Mallard, the offspring are always sterile. You don't normally see them on water because they're not very good at producing water-proofing oil.

[colinaj]

Used to be loads in Lowestoft but eaten by over seas visitors from the Meditterranean countries.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Alan

The Muscovy duck is the only domesticated duck not derived from Mallards. If one is crossed with another duck such as Mallard, the offspring are always sterile. You don't normally see them on water because they're not very good at producing water-proofing oil.

Explains why he mostly seem to be sitting on the ledge, and maybe why they are so easy to catch by hungry people.