Zoologists/Biologists - Identification needed!

[Sean]

So I went on a drunken walk at 4am this morning and found this unusual creature walking about. Very docile, about the size of a swan, but I've never seen a bird like it before. Could anyone help identify it for me?

 

[doctormalisimo]

I think it's a moorhen. Or an exotic pet that isnt found in Britain in the wild.

SOURCE: Zoology student. I once did an RSPB pub quiz.

 

[Sean]

Never mind, been informed by a uni friend it's a Muscovy duck

 

[Hegepege]

I'm a biologist myself, but we don't have that bird around here Really cool! Thanks for shearing

 

[nekoisneko]

is this the same "duck" ? -->

it's a common type of duck in Java Island,

in here, we called it "entog" and we eat it

 

[Sean]

It's native to South America and Mexico apparently, so I don't know what its doing wandering around the outskirts of Derby!

 

[Hegepege]

Notice the claws on the flippers! Never seen that on a duck before. Something tells me this must be a kind of duck that is bred a lot, and my guess is that it has escaped from a bird farm nearby, since it's domestic and to Mexico, should we believe wikipedia.

 

[Sean]

Yeah, the claws made me a bit wary of it at first It was pretty calm though, so I dunno if it was wild...

 

[aletem]

Its head reminds a head from a turkey. That's a weird duck!

 

[toinou03]

Muscovy duck (canard de barbarie in French) is reputed for having a good flesh an different than common duck. I know someone who raises muscovy ducks, hence presence in Europe !

 

[LalehForWD]

No no no, it's a Svensk myskanka, described by Linné 1749 in his Scanian journey (Linnés skånska resa). Quite popular in south Sweden these days as the only really effective weapon against the mördarsnigel (killer-snail, Spanish slug).

references:
Svensk myskanka
Spanish slug