Duck, and like them the pigeons

[sitifan]

Duck, and like them the pigeons, are endowed with steel-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale before exhaustion follows. (My bold.)
Source: https://www.enfamily.cn/thread-16128-1-1.html
Why use "the" before pigeons? Can I use "the" before "duck"?

 

[teechar]

This is badly written, I presume by a non-native speaker of English. He/she should have used "ducks" and "pigeons" if talking in general terms about those birds.

they can bore for long

Note the typo.

 

[5jj]

It should be The duck ... the pigeon or Duck ... pigeons.