If It Walks Like a Duck...

I am continually amazed by the diversity of wildlife in this great area and always enjoy spotting new animals or birds as I hike and explore here. Recently, in a marshy area near Carlisle I came across a group of Muscovy Ducks. These very unique looking birds are known to inhabit forested swamps, lakes, streams and nearby grassland and farm fields, and often roosts in trees at night. Interestingly, their feet have strong sharp claws and are built to grasp, so that they can perch on branches.

Doing a little research, I discovered that the Muscovy Duck is a large duck native to Mexico, Central and South America. Small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the United States, particularly in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, as well as in many other parts of North America, including southern Canada. Feral Muscovy Ducks have also been reported in parts of Europe.

Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird, it adapts well to cooler climates, thriving in weather as cold as –12°C (10°F) and able to survive even colder conditions.

They are a large duck, with the males measuring about 76 cm in length, and weighing up to 15 pounds. Females are considerably smaller, and only grow to 7 pounds, roughly half the males' size. The bird is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are more drab. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both sexes have pink or red wattles around the bill, those of the male being larger and more brightly colored.

Muscovy ducks feed on the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of aquatic and terrestrial plants, including agricultural crops. They also eat small fish, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, millipedes and termites.

The group that I spotted consisted of 3 birds and I was able to get quite close as the foraged along the edges of the marsh.

This area is rich in species of waterfowl but the unique appearance of this breed made it particularly interesting to watch.

I greatly appreciate all of the new “likes” on my Dundas Valley and Beyond page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundas-Valley-and-beyond/120774278042380

Thanks for the ongoing support and dialogue. Happy hiking!