DUCK IN KURAKARAN KALEECKAL PUTHEN VEEDU
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family
of birds , which also includes swans and geese .The ducks are
divided among several subfamilies in the family; Muscovy Duck first,
as it’s pretty easy to tell. The most obvious character of a muscovy is
the red facial skin. If your duck has a red face, it’s probably a
Muscovy Duck. This red skin can be quite bumpy, exaggerated, and frankly,
gross, with a knob on top of the bill and lumps all over. If you see
that, it’s a slam dunk Muscovy Duck. The wild type plumage of muscovy is
all black, glossy greenish on the back, and with large white wing
patches. But, because of our fondness for white, domestic muscovies can
be pure white, all black, or any degree of pied black-and-white. Muscovy ducks are
brownish-black in coloration, with iridescent green and purple dorsal plumage
and white wing patches. The legs and feet are grayish-black and the iris is
yellowish-brown. Males and females are similar in appearance, but males are
nearly twice as large as females. In addition, males have a patch of bare black
skin surrounded by pinkish-red caruncles (fleshy outgrowths) which extends from
the back of the eye to the bill. Although relatively silent, the male produces
a low hissing sound and the female has a short, weak "quack."Breeding: The
muscovy duck is found in all parts of the world in a domesticated state. Its
chief breeding range in the wild includes Central America and northern South
America. In North America, muscovies are found locally in Mexico and a small
population inhabits southern Texas at the extreme northern edge of its range.
Muscovies prefer wetlands near forested areas and nest in tree cavities or nest
boxes, laying an average of 8 eggs.Migrating and Wintering: Muscovy
ducks are sedentary and do not have established migration patterns. However,
they may move in response to fluctuating water conditions. Muscovy ducks are
endemic to the Neotropical Realm. They are widespread and fairly common in
tropical regions of Mexico, Central America and South America west of the Andes
south to Ecuador, and east of the Andes south to northern Argentina and Uruguay
(Scott and Carbonell, 1986).Population: The muscovy duck population
is estimated to have between 100,000 and 1 million individuals (Rose and Scott,
1994). Currently, populations are thought to be declining. Despite a wide
distribution, the muscovy duck is only locally common in less populated areas
in the eastern part of its range as a result of hunting and habitat loss. ecent
nest box programs in Mexico, sponsored by Ducks Unlimited de Mexico, A.C.
(DUMAC), have increased populations in many areas.Food habits: 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.
Prof. John Kurakar
No comments:
Post a Comment