Great shot- love these birds with their bottle green/black plumage and contrasting big white wing patches and the dark facial skin and bar on bill- much preferable to domestic form! Even the all black domestics don't look as nice as the wild form.
Many years ago I read Johnsgard's book on waterfowl behaviour (I may have spelled his name incorrectly). He found that the muscovy duck is the only species which has no courtship behaviour - it's just straight rape, as shown above.
Many years ago I read Johnsgard's book on waterfowl behaviour (I may have spelled his name incorrectly). He found that the muscovy duck is the only species which has no courtship behaviour - it's just straight rape, as shown above.
You've spelt it right, that book is still on my bookshelf.
Muscovies are strange creatures indeed- rather prehistoric-looking but quite intelligent for ducks. The(domestic) drakes can also inflict nasty scratches with their claws if they fly at you, which is not unknown if one feels belligerent.
