Muscovy Duck

## Description

The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck native to the Americas. Although it is a tropical bird, it adapts well to cooler climates, thriving in weather as cold as −12 °C (10 °F) and able to survive even colder conditions.

## Appearance

Muscovy ducks are large birds. They are predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are more drab. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both, the males and the females of this species have pink or red wattles around the bill, those of the male being larger and more brightly colored.

## Distribution

Muscovy ducks are found in Mexico and Central and South America. Small wild and feral breeding populations occur in the United States, particularly in Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas as well as in many other parts of North America, including southern Canada. Feral Muscovy ducks are also found in New Zealand, Australia, and parts of Europe. These birds usually inhabit wet forests, forested swamps, wetlands, lakes, rivers, streams, and nearby grassland and farm crops.

## Behavior

Muscovy ducks are agile and speedy birds. They are non-migratory and are active during the day; at night birds often roost in trees. Days are spent feeding by grazing on the ground or dabbling in shallow water. Muscovy ducks are social birds; they are often seen in pairs or small groups. They are aggressive ducks; males often fight over food, territory, or mates. The females fight with each other less often. Some adults will even peck at the ducklings if they are eating at the same food source. In order to communicate with each other, Muscovy ducks wag their tails, raise and lower their heads and use various vocalizations including hisses and quacks. Males have a low breathy call, and females produce a quiet trilling coo.

## Diet

Muscovy ducks are omnivores; their diet consists of plant material, small fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, and millipedes.

## Reproduction

Muscovy ducks are polygynous and do not form stable pairs. The dominant male mates only with those females that nest in his territory. The breeding usually takes place from August to May. The female lays a clutch of 8-16 white eggs, usually in a tree hole or hollow, which are incubated for 35 days. During incubation the female leaves her nest once a day to drink water, eat, and sometimes bathe. Once the eggs begin to hatch it may take 24 hours for all the ducklings to break through their shells. Ducklings are born precocial (fully developed). For the first few weeks of their lives, they feed on grains, corn, grass, insects, and almost anything that moves. Their mother instructs them at an early age how to feed. Often, the male will stay in close contact with the brood for several weeks. The male will walk with the young during their normal travels in search of food, providing protection. Ducklings usually stay with their mother for around 60 to 70 days, until they become independent. Female Muscovy ducks reach reproductive maturity at 28 weeks of age while males become reproductively mature when they are 29 weeks old.

## Population

### Population threats

The main threats to Muscovy ducks include hunting, egg-collecting, and habitat loss. Another threat to the wild species comes from the hybridization with domestic birds.

### Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total Muscovy duck population size is 50,000-499,999 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

### Ecological niche

Muscovy ducks are important in their habitats as predators of aquatic and terrestrial vegetation and animals, thus controlling their populations. These birds are also an important food source for local predators.

## Domestication

Muscovy ducks had been domesticated by various Native American cultures in the Americas when Columbus arrived in the Bahamas. The first few were brought onto the Columbus ship Santa Maria they then sailed back to Europe by the 16th century. Muscovy ducks have been domesticated for centuries, and are widely traded as "Barbary duck". Muscovy breeds are popular because they have stronger-tasting meat than the usual domestic ducks. Muscovy ducks are also less noisy and sometimes marketed as a "quackless" duck. Domesticated Muscovy ducks often have plumage features differing from other wild birds. White breeds are preferred for meat production, as darker ones can have much melanin in the skin, which some people find unappealing.

## Fun Facts

"Muscovy" is an old name for the region of Russia surrounding Moscow, but these ducks neither are native there nor were introduced there before they became known in Western Europe. It is not quite clear how the term came about; it very likely originated between 1550 and 1600 but did not become widespread until somewhat later.

In some regions the name Barbary duck is used for domesticated and "Muscovy duck" for wild birds. In general, "Barbary duck" is the usual term for this species in a culinary context.

In South America, Muscovy ducks are often called "Musco ducks" because they eat many mosquitos.

The domestic Muscovy duck is commonly known in Spanish as the 'pato criollo'. Other names for the domestic breed in Spanish are 'pato casero' ('backyard duck') and 'pato mudo' ('mute duck').