On a recent photo shoot, I encountered this strange creature:
I haven’t been able to find any information on them other than other bloggers who are equally as fascinated by them as myself, but it appears to be a cross between a chicken and a duck. As you can see, it pretty much has a duck’s body, complete with bill, with the red matter that makes up the comb of a chicken on its head. It’s gait is a cross between a waddle and a strut.
Okay, yes, it’s ugly. I think it knows it’s ugly, too. Want a closer look?
What should we call these things? Chucks? Duckens? Chuckens? Does anyone know what it actually is?
[UPDATE: June 14, 2005, 12:54PM]
Thanks to Shawn’s comment, we now know that this is a Muscovy Duck. Thanks, Shawn!
“Muscovy Duck” has been added to the title of this post.
joeschmidt said,
May 28, 2005 @ 12:06 am
how about dinner?
Charles said,
May 29, 2005 @ 6:14 pm
Do you think we could throw some Turkey DNA into the mix? We could have a turducken in a much more compact meal.
Shawn said,
June 13, 2005 @ 6:55 pm
I believe you were looking at a Muscovy duck. They originated in Brazil apparently…
kadavy said,
June 13, 2005 @ 11:39 pm
Thanks so much, Shawn. A quick Google search confirms that you are right. They are Muscovy Ducks. Mystery solved!
Andy & Mary said,
January 18, 2006 @ 6:51 pm
Hello~ We were doing our bi-monthly duck feeding at Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and !!! there he/she was! How it got here from South America we do not know but we thought it resembled a turkey/duck instead~ We called it a Durkey~~ or a Tuck. We are so happy to know what he/she was~~ Thank you~~~
Andy & Mary said,
January 18, 2006 @ 6:51 pm
Hello~ We were doing our bi-monthly duck feeding at Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and !!! there he/she was! How it got here from South America we do not know but we thought it resembled a turkey/duck instead~ We called it a Durkey~~ or a Tuck. We are so happy to know what he/she was~~ Thank you~~~
rachel said,
January 22, 2006 @ 6:26 am
we called ours a chuck
Jackie said,
February 28, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
Hehe Muscovy ducks are quite common in South Florida (where I grew up). The ducklings and younger ducks are really very cute, btw, just some of the older males arent so pretty. It makes sense that they’re from South America, as most things down here are, and they certainly love mangos and bananas! Some of my neighbors (originally from the Carribbean) would eat them, but that’s absolutely disgusting in my opinion. Apparently highly domesticated Muscovy is better for us than turkey though: http://www.grimaud.com/duck.htm .
liz williams said,
April 19, 2006 @ 8:19 am
ive discovered 3 muscovy ducks in redditch in england!
al chauncy said,
May 24, 2006 @ 6:42 pm
I went running at lake Lynn park in Raleigh.NC and these chicken ducks scared the you know what out of me. I never seen a such hideous creature in my life. I observed them and they do not fit in nor get alone with the regular ducks or swan. they pretty much stay in a group of their own. They are real fascinating.
Jamie said,
June 3, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
Here in Reading, PA we noticed the first of these “muscovy” ducks about three to four years ago. It started with only one sighting, then year after year they mulitplied. Although they seem to be the muscovy duck I would imagine that they are breeding with the ordinary ducks too. I would also disagree with the fact that they do not get along with other ducks. Our lake is rather small only about 450 x 300 feet or so. Here are two pictures we recently took on 5/06. The one looks very evil!! Although other are actually cute in a way.
http://freddyleezard.home.comcast.net/duck1.jpg
http://freddyleezard.home.comcast.net/duck2.jpg
heather said,
June 15, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
ROFL!!! me and my best friend just went to florida and found those things!! lol omg we were so afraid of them they look like they’re gonna attack u! we decided to call it the pucken because the way they wag their tails reminds u of a puppy.
Bill said,
June 17, 2006 @ 4:16 pm
Muscovy ducks are a common domesticated duck in Tennessee. They are strong fliers and can really fertilize the grass and water like a goose . Watch your step when their chips are down!!!
Biberon said,
June 25, 2006 @ 4:45 am
It is an actualy true breed of duck, we romanians call it polands ducks, the usual name given by locals, don’t care about the real name given to the breed tough or it’s origin. It is better then the usul breeds of duck because it isn’t noisy and it’s the same taste. You people get scared of every thing you see? what is so unusual to you about those ducks anyway? You have google, at least that. Enlighten yourselves! And please stop posting stupid comments.
panu said,
July 6, 2006 @ 11:26 am
Hi,
If you like the chicken/duck, you’ll love this! I’ve just heard it on the news in Thailand. it’s a real chicken duck!
http://panu-panu.blogspot.com/2006/07/ducks-and-chickens.html
Top half a duck bottom half a chicken! and it can’t swim! It’s my favorite animal!
I was looking for more information on this fascinating creature, but this moscovy duck is the closest thing i’ve found.
Julie said,
July 17, 2006 @ 1:55 pm
I just saw one of these in Sedona, AZ on a golf course this weekend! We kept calling it a turducken or chuck or turduck. We had no idea! The thing wagged its tail when people were feeding it.
Emily said,
July 19, 2006 @ 2:00 pm
we have chicken ducks in loveland ohio (cincinnati area). They live near the little miami river (which isn’t the cleanest stream of water) and we just assumed they drank the water and mutated. ha ha. i’ll try to snap a picture for you sometime. oh and by the way…they live in a van, down by the river of course! toodles!
Lissa said,
August 3, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
We have them in Missississippi too. I noticd them at the park in Meridian, MS about three or four months ago. We also have pigeons now too. Very odd. Guess these birds just got lost.
Ben Fortenberry said,
August 4, 2006 @ 5:48 am
A great mystery has been solved! These adorable creatures have lived along the canals of New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana for as long as I can remember- even Hurricane Katrina didn’t faze them! I’ve always called them Chuckens and I think I’ll continue to do so, but it’s nice to know other have encountered these fascinating birds. I don’t feel so alone anymore…Thanks.
Kit said,
August 11, 2006 @ 6:03 am
We have two (both males, I think) who live in our lake and come right up to our window for handouts. We have always called them vulture ducks, until today, when I could stand it no longer and decided to find out what they really are. Google led me to your blog here, where it was nice to know that lots of other people were pretty clueless about them, as well!
Stephanie C. said,
August 19, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
i have two muscovies. i think they are both males because they hiss a lot. they are very large. one is lavender and dark green with white around its neck, and the other is gray and black. and of course they have the red carunkles on their face. they are very beautiful.
Gerald said,
August 21, 2006 @ 2:04 am
hi…i have a muscovy hen they are beutiful ducks and i adore there crunckles(the red skin on there face) i plan on getting some more hens and a drake they are really a marvelouse bird to have around as they lyk to eat bugs and flys and keep youre grass at a reasonable length…i love my duck..lol
Rae said,
August 21, 2006 @ 10:27 am
Muscovy ducks are not some rare crossbred mutant. They are an actual recognized breed by the American poultry Association (APA). in 1874 the white muscovy was accepted into the APA. Blacks in 1904, Blue in 1950 and in 1982 the chocolate color was accepted in. This is not a new breed.Nor is it rare. It is actually a meat duck.
They are not a mallard derived breed. Being wholey seperate.
A simply interent search will bring up more info on these ducks.
terrie said,
August 21, 2006 @ 11:56 am
I love scovies! They are very personable and sweet and make wonderful pets. The reason you see them in the parks and such is ususally because they get dumped after they stop being cute ducklings. They are prolific breeders and will populate an area quickly. Poor Ducks.
Steffie said,
August 22, 2006 @ 6:43 pm
I wrote in earier about my ducks, but, i just wanted to say that they’re agressive towards the other breeds of ducks at the creek where they live. They are friendly with me, but timid around other people. They live in Boswell, Pennsylvania.
Kristina said,
September 7, 2006 @ 8:22 pm
There are also lavender muscovy’s, mine is the smallest of my ducks, but don’t let her size fool you, she is the alpha of them all and she’ll let them know that the hard way! The URL is a pic of her.
Jessica Fowler said,
September 30, 2006 @ 10:54 am
There is Muscovy Duck at Burton’s Pond at the Memorial University Of Newfoundland’s campus. I was curious to know what it was at first and probably did think it was a little ugly. But, as a matter of fact they are really gentle creatures; he eats bird seed right out of my hand!! I think he is actually really beautiful now. I hear people saying some really aweful things about these amazing birds….some people won’t even feed him because they are scared of him! That breaks my heart!I have even heard some people say they will kick him if he comes near them! How disgusting! People are sick! I would like to find him(or her ) a mate. I’m not really sure about the differences in the sexes. Anyhow, i thought i would just let people know how gentle these birds are!
Thanks,
Jessica Fowler
ILovemyDuck! said,
October 15, 2006 @ 9:07 am
There was a comment made July 6, 2006 at 11:26 AM about how Muscovy ducks can’t swim. I own a muscovy duck and he can swim just fine. He enjoys swimming and eating any insects on top of the water.
Sarah said,
October 16, 2006 @ 12:26 am
I have two pet ducks! i got them for my birthday! One is a male and the other is a female. i beleive that they are going to have some ducklings, They are cute and i liek the red! My male one is very big compared to the gril, they love to swim in my pond/tub, and keep the snails, insects and bugs away from my house! I love my ducks and would never thing they are a corssbred mistake!
berte said,
December 4, 2006 @ 11:33 am
I grew up in Washington state, we had alot of lakes around and a ton of muscovy ducks, I thought they were just like the other ducks and geese hanging out at the lakes. Then I moved to Texas, by a lake, and had a muscovy lay a nest in my front yard, our neighbors were freaked out, and no one else seemed to know what they were, which i thought ws pretty wierd, since they also lived by the lake, most people, even here, don’t pay attention to the breeds here. We also get alot of migrating birds here, many beautiful wildfowl. I don’t think they are strange at all, now the geese here are another story, i thnk the are chinese geese, mean and scary!
Kari said,
December 6, 2006 @ 11:12 am
Great, had been wondering about this for many years after seeing one in Nanaimo BC. This one-of-a-kind had all of us bird watchers agog at his almost all white coat and promient red waddle contrasting with webbed feet and adept swimming ability. He hung around with the other ducks (variety of breeds) who accepted him, but he was very outgoing and nicely mannered.
Evel said,
January 21, 2007 @ 5:23 am
I first noticed these ducks down in Metairie, Louisiana. They were plentyful in the canals around town. After Katrina, they were amoung the first critters to come back. They sure are ugly and don’t mind all the sewage and trash floating in the contaminated canals. They share the canals with the Nutras, a local mammal down there. Looks like a big fat rat.
Bryt said,
January 29, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
OK I just heard on the Los Angeles Channel 9 News @10 of a Rooster with webbed feet. Is this a cross breed or is there a type of rooster that naturally has webbed feet?
maggie ferrell said,
January 30, 2007 @ 4:06 am
I just heard of this also this morning on the news. They are down playing it and saying that it is just a genetic mistake and that chickens and ducks can’t cross breed….but hey I believe my eyes!!!
Linda Groom said,
April 22, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Hi,
First saw this whatever it is in Festus Missouri. (West City Park) Took photos of it and showed many people. They couldn’t tell me what it is. My sister told me to type durkey bird and sure enough there it was, I’m learning more out about this bird. It doesn’t seem to be afraid of me, I sit right down next to it.
ZELDEENEE WEENEE said,
July 5, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
hmm.. i’ve seen or heard of this duck before, and was really surprised to see one suddenly out of nowhere in front of my apts. it followed me home, and at first i was scared of it, now we love eachother
chuck the duck said,
October 15, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
we have seen one of these at the marine park in south shields and have named it chuck. p.s he loves space raiders.we will be getting photo evidence soon, bye.
Carlos said,
November 15, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Hi… I’m from Brazil, and there are a lot of those ducks when you travel to the country side of Brazil… you can find them in farms (domestic) or in the wild, and actually they nest in tree holes,.. and they are very nice animals, the male will attack any other animal that comes in the way of his family….
julio said,
June 14, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
thats a face only a momma can love
Wilcock said,
June 20, 2008 @ 10:00 am
they were created as a science experiment whereby strong microwaves were shone on a pregnant hen in one room and in the other room there was a duck. after several days the chicken hatched eggs that became hybrid creatues…there was no sexual reproduction only the use of microwaves.
this implies that your, my, and every creature’s DNA is not unalterable but rather may be manipulated by a strong source of EM waves or energy.
Now the real question you should be asking yourselves: Why do so many of the things we use directly imbue us with EM waves/radiation and is it possible that the sun and or something/one HAARP for example…may be trying to use that for their own experiment…google it yourselves…
look also for the salamander egg that turned into a from whilst you’re at it lads.
Lacey said,
June 25, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
My friends and I were at camp and saw this strange creature. We named chuck (CHicken-dUCK). I googled it and found your page. We wrote a song for him:
Chuck oh Chuck
he’s a very sily duck
Chuck oh Chuck
he likes to swim in muck
Chuck oh Chuck
We love you silly duck!
(optional for last line: you’re a very vain duck!)
Jessica said,
June 30, 2008 @ 5:00 am
This is a muscovy duck.Its a recongnized breed. Not some kind of radiation experiment.Actually as far as eating ducks these are the best ones.They are very lean and dont have near as much of the wild flavor.I have probley one of the funniest looking ducks at my house.She is half muscovy and half rouen(flightless mallard).
Mona Bogart said,
August 4, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
Recently, this ugly duck came to our pond. It’s got a big body black body, with a little bit od dark green on its tailfeathers. It has big black legs & big black webbed feet. The circumferance of it’s neck is white with black speckles. It has a red beak, which looks like rubber. Underneath, it has one white spot, near it’s tail feathers. On it’s yellowish bill there is a bluish tip on the very end of it. It is not afraid of people & nearly ate some fish food out of my hand. It resembles the Muscovy & I wonder if it’s the male species, since male ducks have all the color. Does this sound like a Muscovy to anyone? Are they friendly by nature or is it because it’s a pet to someone. This duck is so big & fat & ugly, but yet so friendly. What a big eater too!!! Ha Ha!!!
Mona Bogart said,
August 4, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
In my earlier post, I meant to say that he has red on his face, not on his beak.It reminds me of a chicken’s comb but it is on its face.
Mona Bogart said,
August 4, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
I was a foot away from it tonight as I threw some fish pellets to it & other seed to my big flock of mallard ducks. The entire time that I talked to the duck, he/she kept shaking its tailfeathers just like a dog does with his tail when it’s happy to see it’s owner. I don’t know where it came from as it wasn’t here last year.( Carolinas)
kadavy said,
August 5, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
Cool, Mona - thanks for the great description. If you get a chance to take a picture, send it my way!
Mona Bogart said,
August 5, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
kadavy….I will indeed. It seems to come around at the same time daily, that being early evening. This duck has an enormous appetite to say the least. I really enjoy feeding & watching this very friendly duck. I believe it to be a male as I have compared it to online photos of the female species. This duck gets along great with the Mallard ducks & turtles, who come on land to eat & rest. Thanks to you & your website, it has allowed others to share their stories about this very different looking duck. The name of this duck, has now become known. I love how he shakes his tailfeathers as he’s eating. I was just a foot from him & his tailfeathers never stopped shaking until he waddled down to the pond’s edge to drink some water. The ducklings are adorable, per the photo I saw, & hopefully, I’ll get to see some here in my backyard/pond, in the near future. Maybe a female will make an appearance one of these days as well.
Tiffany said,
August 13, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
i just purchased two muscovy ducklings. they are already becoming very friendly, as we plan to keep them as pets. they have great personalities!
Mona Bogart said,
August 13, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Tiffany,
That is so cool. Where would I go to buy a couple Muscovy ducks? I live in South Carolina. A Muscovy duck suddenly appeared in the pond behind my homelast month. It is very friendly & now comes around daily, to eat with the Mallard ducks, when I throw feed out for them. I can get within a foot of this duck & that’s it, which is fine with me. Enjoy your new additions. Have you named them?
Jessica said,
August 15, 2008 @ 5:00 am
look up duck hatcheries the only problem is most of them require an order of 25 ducklings or more(most will also let you choose from different types of ducks) The reason they do that is to keep the day old babies warm during shipping
Mona Bogart said,
August 15, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Jessica,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I appreciate it. Good luck with your Muscovy ducklings.
Josh Pflasterer said,
August 28, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
I live on a farm. My uncle gave me two Muscovy ducks.Its been past 3 years and I now have 50 muscovy ducks. The name was ariganated from miscitoe duck and avalved into the muscovy duck.I have not goten bit by a mesquiteo for the whole summer thangs to my ducks.If you sell one there worth quite a bit of money.
Dawn said,
September 10, 2008 @ 3:03 am
Hi, I’m from the UK and the Muscovvy is a fairly common domesticated duck in this country. They originate from the Amazon Rainforest, have better claws and ‘tooth’ (hooked blip on end of bill)than other ducks for foraging. Whilst swimming isn’t as important for this breeds as for others (the oil gland isn’t as efficient) they love it, the males are considerably larger than the females and both sexes are very quiet - our females make a lovely trilling peep sound when chatting away), the ducks fly well - though I never saw my drake get more than a foot clear of the ground. They will cross breed with other ducks though the drake will usually only breed with other types if kept away from girl muscovies from about 12 weeks (once he’s been with his own kind it seems he won’t go back….) any cross bred offspring are almost certainly sterile. I have seen a Muscovy drake mating with a goose but have no idea if the offspring would be viable though Muscovies are technically closer to a goose than a duck….
For anyone interested this site seems very informative (pics at the bottom)
http://www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/mozzie.htm
They also make great determined duck broodies 2 of mune have 14 duckling between them - none of them muscovies!
Mona said,
September 10, 2008 @ 5:09 am
Dawn,
Thank you for sharing that most interesting information with us. I really enjoyed reading your comments & the photos of the Muscovies were great. I had a drake show up in the pond behind my house several months ago. I looked forward to seeing him daily. He’d eat whatever the Mallards didn’t eat & he allowed me to get within a foot of where he was, As he ate, his tail feathers would shake, much like a dog’s tail when it’s happy to see its owner. It’s been a month & he’s not been back. Perhaps he has a girlfriend in another pond somewhere.
Glenn said,
September 22, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
I live in Tidewater Va close to Norfolk,live in a residential neighborhood. There are 30 or more that visit my yard everyday. I made the mistake of feeding them when they were little chicks. Now they knock at the front door every morning around 5am. The females fly very well,the males are very large and dont make very long airborn trips.They are very agressive to any other brood of ducks that happen to wander by. these ducks will fly and get on your vehicle,scratch the paint with there long toe nails,poop all over everything. The mom duck had 23 babies in April of this year. They are cute and fun when little,but they are a pest in the neighbor hood.
Mona said,
September 22, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
Hi Glenn,
Thanks for your input about your fine feathered family. I had one of these ducks show up a few months ago, in the pond behind my house. I was so surprised to see it & didn’t know what it was until I found this most interesting website here where others shared stories/photos about the Muscovy ducks. The Muscovy duck hasn’t visited my pond for a good month or a bit longer. All of a sudden, he was gone. When he made a few daily visits here, he was no problem & didn’t bother my big flock of Mallard ducks that took up residency in the pond. This male Muscovy let me get within a foot of him, to throw feed to it but that was far enough. He ate like a pig & shook his tailfeathers while doing so, much like a dog wagging their tail. I’m hoping my fine feathered friend makes an appearance one of these days, but if not, that’s okay too.
Jerry said,
September 23, 2008 @ 4:25 am
I live in Hampton, VA (Souteast Virginia near Norfolk). My back door is only 25 feet from a lake. I’ve enjoyed watching numerous water foul over the years, but the Muscovy ducks has been a real nusiance. Dozens of them spend the night in my back yard, leaving droppings and feathers all over my yard. If you live on a lake or pond be sure not to feed them because they won’t go away and eventually will become a pest to the neighborhood.