Bird ID Question from the Cooks.

Birds of the islands and waters of the South Pacific.
Elizabeth
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Bird ID Question from the Cooks.

Postby Elizabeth » Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:38 am

Hello from Rarotonga. Is it Ross there? We are staying near MURI Beach, Rarotonga, and last week or so, we rented a car to have a drive around. As we were headed back down a gorge/stream pathway, this bird was spotted along the edge of the driveway. What is it? Can you help us identify the thing, please. It looked a lot like a duck but the red wattle seems unique.

And where or how can I attach the photos of it? They seem too big for the attachment function (see the red message above). So what to do?

Appreciate help with this, if possible,
Elizabeth
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Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Bird ID Question from the Cooks.

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Mon Aug 17, 2015 12:29 pm

Hi Elizabeth. Sorry we haven't been able to sort out your photo to post. Do feel free to email it to me if you get a chance.
From your description of a duck with red wattles I think it most likely you saw a Muscovy duck, which are widely kept as domestic ducks.
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Michael
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Re: Bird ID Question from the Cooks.

Postby Michael » Mon Aug 17, 2015 4:57 pm

I am familiar with most wild birds on the Cooks from some study a while ago, and no duck there matches. Muscovies (or Muscovy's?), are probably the most likely for that reason
Latest Lifer: Australian Gull-Billed Tern @ Manawatu Estuary

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