Non-native 'tree duck' spotted on Cornish beach

A non-native duck believed to have escaped from captivity has been spotted on a Cornish beach.

Artist Amal Barwell said he feeds the ducks every morning on Par beach after his dog walks and spotted the odd one out on 17 February.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust confirmed it was a fulvous whistling duck that could have escaped from captivity.

According to online resource All About Birds, whistling ducks or "tree ducks" are normally found in warm freshwater marshes across the Americas, Africa and Asia.

The ducks, which are caramel-brown and black in colour, were once called tree ducks because of their habit of roosting in trees, said All About Birds.

Mr Barwell said: "I go and feed the ducks every morning after my dog walks, they spot the car on my way in and gather waiting for when I come back.

"About one week ago, I noticed him hanging out with the [others] - first I thought they had a baby but then I noticed he looked nothing like the other and was really cute."

'Well-accepted'

He said the duck had a "high pitch whistle" and "stands up for himself".

"[He] seems well-accepted, he stays way away from me when I approach him," he said.

"He was was here today completely in his element - Par beach inspires me as an artist."

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