Tropical duck spotted in Carpenders Park (From Watford Observer)

Muscovy duck spotted in The Hoe, Carpenders Park

5:00pm Saturday 9th February 2013 in News By Zoe Forsey, Reporter

Muscovy ducks are not usually fans of the British weather but, as this picture shows, one of the tropical birds has set up home in Carpenders Park.

There have been a number of sightings of the large duck, which is more commonly seen in Mexico, and America, in The Hoe.

Deborah Mcnaughtan, who lives in the road, has seen the bird twice this week.

The 45-year-old said: “At first I didn’t know what it was so I looked it up on the internet.

“I have been really worried about him because he’s used to warmer temperatures and it has been cold over the last few days.

“When I first saw him on Monday he was up on the garage roof and I wondered if he was injured or something but the next day my son saw him down on the ground.

“On Wednesday I went to feed him and watched him fly down.

“He has disappeared now but I wondered if it was somebody’s pet that had gone missing.”

The male ducks usually measure about 75cm in length and can weigh up to nine kilograms, but the females are a lot smaller.

They are predominantly black and white with pink or red wattles around the bill.