I like these. Question is, is it a 'wild' type Muscovy, or a pure black/wildtype coloured Domestic one? I think the latter, given the stated location, plus the fact that genuine wild ones usually have dark facial skin.
Perhaps one with part domestic & part wild ancestry--there are more wild Muscovies in UK collections than formerly, a lot it down to aZoochat member who breeds them. Someone obviously thought this one was at least a bit 'wild', as it looks as though they pinioned it.
I think you’re correct; my feeling, too, is that it is a domestic Muscovy duck, with wild-coloured plumage, rather than a genuine wild one.
However, I’m not completely sure; whilst at Barnes, I looked at the signs in the South American enclosure to see if they answered that very question but couldn't find the information I was looking for.
I've compared this with Maguari's photos of wild Muscovies at Cotswold Wildlife Park. Now I'd say this is a 'domestic' wildtype for the following points;
1. the facial skin is light, not black,
2. it doesn't have the distinctive bill pattern- with a narrow black bar on a light bill- that the wild birds have,
3. the hue of the plumage is not quite as jet black/green as the wild birds'.
