A question:

[elleng]

I'm visiting in Boca Raton, FL.

This evening I saw a bird walking around shopping center area, at McDonald's, drinking from puddle.

I estimate 10+- lbs, dark grey/black feathers on body, white on wings and tail; white speckled w. black neck, 6+ inches; red 'mask' around eyes; gold/mustard beak 3? inches.

Not intimidated by me in car, and remained at same spot, drinking and looking around, for 30+ minutes.

What IS he? Looks turkey-ish to me.

Thanks!

[XemaSab]

1. Wow! Sounds interesting!

A few questions:

Was the "mask" around the eyes big or small? More like a Zorro mask, or more like little spectacles?

Relative to the body, was the beak long and thin, short and fat, or in between?

Was the tail very small relative to the size of the bird, or longer?

Finally, about how long was the bird from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail?

Good times...

[semillama]

2. Here's your bird

Muscovy Duck, breeds wild from an domestic population that went feral a while back. (it's countable for the ABA list in Florida!)

[elleng]

3. Thank you Thank you!!!

You got it!

Didn't see any 'pups,' tho!

If I return and she's still there, should I feed her???

[semillama]

4. they do well for themselves.

so not necessary to give hand outs. I'm sure the bird would accept it though, like many urbanized birds.

[XemaSab]

5. Damn

Somehow the family Anseriformes did not enter my scope of consideration. x(

/teh suxx0r x(

[semillama]

6. They are all over the place in the southern half of the state in urban areas

You can't go anywhere near water without seeing about a half dozen at least. The bit about it being in a McDonald's parking lot was my first clue...