Muscovy duck? (2 Viewers)

[Jonah Bishop]

I saw this bird in Raleigh, NC today swimming in an area lake. The Merlin app thinks this is a turkey vulture, but I know that cannot be the case (the beak isn't hooked, and the feathers are too iridescent). Could this be a muscovy duck? Perhaps a domesticated variant?

 

[Microtus]

It's most definitely a Muscovy Duck, doubtless domestic.
eta: Welcome to the Forum, Jonah!

 

[Butty]

Yes, Muscovy duck - fairly wild-type, but obviously of domestic origin.

 

[Jonah Bishop]

Terrific. Thanks for the help in identifying this! It's a new one to me!

 

[KC Foggin]

A great shot of this Muscovy Duck

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello. Please join in wherever you like

 

[Jonah Bishop]

A follow-up question: are these birds rare in North America?

 

[dave598]

Yes it is and welcome to the forum

 

[Butty]

It's of domestic origin. So it or its forbears escaped from a pen/cage/enclosure - they're not native anywhere closer than Mexico - so the concept of 'rarity' doesn't mean very much in this case. Feral breeding populations occur in various parts of the world.

 

[Jonah Bishop]

Thanks for the clarification, Butty!

 

[dave598]

We had 5 or 6 that I know of at Sunset Park in Las Vegas along with Floyd Lamb Park in Vegas

 

[Microtus]

Wild Muscovy Ducks show up along the US side of the Rio Grande almost as far upstream as Laredo, Texas. They don't go too far past the river though. There are established feral populations in Florida.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.