Thanks, or maybe not. That makes it even more confusing. If Mallard and
Muscovy Ducks hybridise and if they do so regularly and if the hybrids are
fertile, then inevitably they may reach a point (or already have in some
cases) at which it is unrealistic to draw a dividing line from field
observations. This is especially so as both species in Australia are derived
from domesticated stock that already varies widely in shape and colour.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Parslow Stafford <>
To: Philip A Veerman <>
Date: Sunday, 15 November 1998 21:50
Subject: Re: Ducks with warty skin
>----------
>> From: Philip A Veerman <>
>> To: Andrew Patrick <>
>> Andrew Patrick wrote:
>> "Farmyard ducks with red warty skin around the eyes. These are not
>Mallards
>> and I would like to know their name if you can help."
>> These ducks are Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moshata), originally from Central
>and
>> South America. What I don't know is whether the domesticated
>> Muscovy Duck hybridises with anything else.
>
>Yes, they hybridise with mallards. On my first-ever Twitch I was utterly
>confused by a "mystery duck" on Swanbank Lagoon -- coloration somewhat
>similar to a breeding male mallard, but very large and with an upright
>tail. From my sketch, Greg Czechura at Queensland Museum suggested a
>domestic muscovy/mallard hybrid, and confirmed from a reference work that
>such hybridisation occurs (sorry, can't remember what the book was). I
>have subsequently seen similar hybrids (with considerable variation in
>markings, coloration and size) on ornamental lakes in other parts of SEQ.
>
>Bloody mallards seem to get away with just about anything!
>
>Vicki PS
>
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