Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata - domestic (and feral) variants

Muscovy Ducks are native to South and Central America but domesticated birds can be found across the world. Birds found in the wild tend to be assumed to have escaped but some of them have been deliberately released and others are simply free-ranging from their 'home'. Captive-origin birds sometimes breed in the wild and at least some of the birds in Florida shown below are part of a feral population. The extent of white on domestic-origin birds is often much greater than on wild birds but is highly variable; wild birds also lack the wrinkly red face that is characteristic of adult birds of domestic origin.

captive Muscovy Duck, Cleethorpes (Lincolnshire, UK), 7th April 2012

These are part of a feral wild-breeding population.

feral Muscovy Ducks, Washington Loop Road (Florida, USA), 28th December 2003

juvenile Muscovy Ducks, Polgigga (Cornwall, UK), 19th October 2010

captive Muscovy Duck, Martin Mere (Lancashire, UK), 28th December 2003

Muscovy Duck, Drift Reservoir (Cornwall, UK), 29th September 2001

Muscovy Duck, Polgigga (Cornwall, UK), 18th November 2003

Muscovy Duck, Polgigga (Cornwall, UK), 6th November 2011

Muscovy Ducks, Elsham (Lincolnshire, UK), 7th April 2012

Muscovy Duck, Key West Botanical Garden (Florida, USA), 19th April 2013

Muscovy Duck, Liwonde entrance track (Malawi), 28th December 2003

Muscovy Duck, Cape Maclear (Malawi), 28th December 2003

Muscovy Duck, Stanhoe (Norfolk, UK), 3rd December 2011

Muscovy Ducks, Tattersett (Norfolk, UK), 15th April 2004

Muscovy Ducks, Tattersett (Norfolk, UK), 5th March 2011

Muscovy Duck, Swanton Morley fishing lakes (Norfolk, UK), 18th December 2004

Muscovy Duck, Tattersett (Norfolk, UK), 15th April 2004

Muscovy Duck, Fring (Norfolk, UK), 30th January 2013