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Riverview, FL
$13.00
Title
Feral Muscovy Duck
Artist
Norman Johnson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A feral muscovy duck feeds in the swamps of Tampa, Florida's Lettuce Lake Park.
Wild muscovy ducks (cairina moschata) are non-migratory birds that are found in coastal and lowland forested wetlands from Texas and Mexico south through Central America and down into South America to upper Argentina. A feral populations exists in Florida. They prefer fresh water but also live in brackish.
They are one of the oldest domesticated fowl species in the world, and were being kept by the natives of Peru and Paraguay when the early spanish explorers arrived. Domesticated versions occur across much of North America in shallow wetlands and rivers. In Florida they are sometimes just called river ducks.
A large dabbling duck, muscovys measure from 26" to 33.1" in length with a wingspan between 53.9" to 59.8." Wild muscovys are large, heavy bodied, glossy black ducks with long necks and bold white wing patches. They have a fairly long tail and hooked bill, with red facial skin and an odd warty growth where the face meets the bill. They have strong claws which allows them to perch easily in trees. Wild males have a short crest on the nape of their neck. The feet and legs are blackish. Domesticated birds can have variable large patches of white on their body. The male muscovy duck is the largest duck in North America, although the female is only half its size.
Muscovys forage in shallow wetlands, ponds and lagoons for both plant and animal matter. They eat grasses and sedges, tubers and seeds, as well as insects, larva and adults, spiders, crustaceans, worms, reptiles, etc. In the tropics they feed on termites by breaking open their mounds with their bills.
Forest dwellers, muscovys nest in tree cavaties.
The Aztec rulers wore cloaks made from the feathers of the muscovy duck, which was considered the totem animal of the wind god Elecatl.
Uploaded
May 23rd, 2019
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Viewed 717 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/26/2024 at 2:24 PM
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Naples, FL - United States
Congratulations Norman, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2019 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Norman Johnson replied:
I'm really glad you like it Don. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "Birds In Focus."
Naples, FL - United States
Congratulations Norman, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2019 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Norman Johnson replied:
I'm really glad you like it Don. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "A Birding Group - Wings."
Riverview, FL - United States
I'm really glad you like it Scott. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "FAA Portraits - Birds."
Stuart, FL - United States
Wonderful feather patterns and dappled light. Thank you for submitting this fine shot and correctly named bird to Wild Birds Of The World - A Nature Photography Group, where it is now featured on the home page. L/F
Norman Johnson replied:
I'm really glad you like it William. Thank you for the feature in the group "Wild Birds Of The World - A Nature Photography Group."
Titusville, FL - United States
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Norman Johnson replied:
I'm really glad you like it John. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "Images That Excite You."
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