Muscovy Duck

Quick Take

• Muscovy ducks signal their emotions the same way dogs do, and the method they use is not their feathers or their bill. See the tail-wagging fact →
• Their meat is prized at upscale restaurants, but it tastes nothing like duck. Remarkably, the color of their feathers actually changes the flavor. How plumage affects flavor →
• Male Muscovy ducks are literally grounded while females can escape at will, and owners have to take action because of it. Managing flight differences →
• This duck was already domesticated before Europeans knew it existed, and its journey from South America to dinner tables worldwide is stranger than you'd expect. Trace their domestication history →

The Muscovy duck is easily recognized by its bright red fleshy skin (caruncle) surrounding its eyes. This curious-looking bird originally inhabited tropical areas but has evolved to thrive in temperatures as low as 10°F.

Muscovy ducks have provided sustenance to South and Central American families for decades with their meat and eggs. However, feral colonies have popped up over the years in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States.

Three Incredible Muscovy Duck Facts

• Muscovy ducks have an average lifespan of eight to twelve years, but in captivity, they can live as long as 20 years.
• These ducks don’t make a lot of noise. Unlike other ducks, they will only make a sound when attacked or overly excited.
• If they get excited or feel threatened, their tails will start to wag persistently. In addition, the males might make a hissing or puffing noise.

Where to Find the Muscovy Duck

Muscovy ducks originated in numerous Central American and South American countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

However, feral breeding colonies have popped up in the United States, specifically in Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and northern territories up into Canada.

In addition, they are found in gardens and parks across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. They can thrive in a wide variety of habitats and can be found in wetlands, swamps, streams, grasslands, forests, lakes, rivers, and agricultural areas.

Nests

These thrifty ducks build their nests in hollows or chambers of old trees, between 10 and 65 feet above the ground. However, sometimes they might nest in thick vegetation on the ground close to water. Females will typically nest in the same location their entire lives.

Classification and Scientific Name

Muscovy ducks’ scientific name is Cairina moschata, and they belong to the Order Anseriformes, which consists of 180 species of waterfowl. They form part of the Family Anatidae that includes aquatic birds like:

• Ducks
• Geese
• Swans

Members of Anatidae are spread over each continent except Antarctica. They are adapted for floating, swimming, and in several cases, diving in shallow water.

There are about 146 species in 43 genera within this family. Their common name is the Muscovy duck, but they are also known as the Musky duck or Barbary duck.

Muscovy ducks have two recognized subspecies: the wild Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata moschata) and the domestic Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata domestica).

Size and Appearance

The Muscovy duck is a large bird with a wingspan of up to 64 inches. They are pretty hefty and can weigh up to 15 pounds. However, females are smaller and weigh between 6 and 7 pounds. Males have a wide, long body measuring around 30 inches, with outspread, flat tails.

Because the females are lighter, they are better flyers. Males struggle to get off the ground because of their hefty bodies. Therefore, captive females need their wings clipped to prevent them from escaping.

Muscovy ducks are typically black and white, but there are several variations, including:

• Black
• Blue
• Chocolate
• Green
• White
• Bronze
• Lavender
• Rippled
• Barred

The males’ black feathers change color when the sunlight hits them, but like many bird species, the females are muted and dull. This is because they need to blend into their surroundings while they’re sitting on their nest.

The Muscovy duck’s head is its most distinctive feature, with their dark red/black facial mask and bright red caruncles, which develop more quickly in males than females.

In addition, the caruncles are more colorful and cover a larger area on the males. Another distinctive feature of the adult males is the reddish-black knob at the base of their bill.

Both sexes have a crest of erectile feathers on their heads, which they raise when nervous or excited. However, males have more prominent crests, which are used as part of their mating ritual. Their eyes are brownish-yellow and have a nictitating membrane that helps them see under water.

Another unique feature is their webbed feet that end in long claws, which allow them to perch in trees. This is why they have earned the nickname “greater wood duck.” Their legs and feet are typically dark gray to black, though domestic varieties may have yellowish or pinkish legs and feet.

Migration Pattern and Timing

Muscovy ducks do not migrate. However, during droughts, they will move from their inland habitat to swamps and coastal lagoons.

Behavior, Reproduction, and Molting

Muscovy ducks are diurnal birds that do not migrate, but they are quick and agile animals that roost in trees at night to avoid predators. They spend their days foraging in shallow water and grazing on the ground.

These ducks are social and will often live in pairs and small groups. However, males are territorial, especially when fighting over food and mates, and both sexes can be highly aggressive.

Females do fight each other, but not as often as males. Surprisingly, females will peck at their ducklings if they try to eat from the same food source.

Muscovy ducks communicate by raising and lowering their heads, wagging their tails, and making noises that include quacks and hisses. Males’ calls are low and breathy, while females make a trilling coo.

Diet

These unusual ducks are omnivores, and their preferences include:

• Plant Material
• Small Fish
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Crustaceans
• Insects
• Millipedes

Reproduction

Muscovy ducks do not mate for life; they are polygamous, which means that one male mates with several females in his territory.

Muscovy ducks’ mating season occurs between August and May, and females can lay between 8 and 16 white eggs. They build their nests in crevices and hollows and incubate their eggs for 35 days. Females take great care of their eggs and only leave the nest once a day to eat, drink, and bathe.

Ducklings are born fully developed, but it can sometimes take 24 hours to break through their shells. Their mother teaches them how to feed immediately, and they eat grass, corn, insects, and grains in their first weeks, but they will eat virtually anything they encounter.

The males will often watch over the brood for a few weeks and chaperone them when looking for food, always keeping watch. Ducklings reach their independence at around 60 to 70 days, and females reach sexual maturity at 28 weeks. However, males mature one week later, at 29 weeks.

Lifespan

These ducks live long lives that range between 8 and 12 years in the wild. However, in captivity, muscovy ducks can live for up to 20 years.

Communication

Unlike most duck species, the Muscovy is silent and only makes noise when excited or threatened. Females make a quiet trilling coo while the males let out a low, calm, breathy call. If they feel threatened, they also make a hissing and puffing sound.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

Muscovy ducks need to watch out for danger wherever they go. In the wild, they make great meals for predators like:

• Herons
• Owls
• Large reptiles
• Raccoons
• Opossums
• Minks
• Skunks
• Foxes

Domestic ducks have to worry about dogs and cats as well.

Population Threats

The biggest threat to Muscovy ducks is habitat loss due to deforestation. Other threats are hunting, egg-collecting, and hybridization with domestic birds.

Muscovy ducks are listed as Least Concern on IUCN’s Redlist and have a population size between 50,000 and 499,999 individuals. However, their number has decreased over the years because of habitat loss.

Domestication

Indigenous peoples in Central and South America had domesticated the Muscovy duck by the time Columbus arrived in the Americas. Then, in the 16^th century, a few of them were transported to Europe.

Now, they trade under the name “Barbary duck” and are very popular because their mildly gamey meat is reminiscent of roast beef but with the tenderness of veal.

Their plumage color often influences their flavor. For example, white muscovy ducks are sought after because their meat tastes the best, while darker ducks have more melanin in the skin, which can make the skin unappealing to some consumers.

Muscovy Ducks as Pets

Muscovy ducks are very calm and peaceful, so they make great pets. However, they need a water source to survive. So if you’re thinking of taking on a Muscovy, you need to provide them with a pond or lake with an abundance of trees surrounding the body of water.

But that’s not all; the trees need to be big enough to have chambers or hollows in the trunk where the ducks can build their nest. Luckily, they also thrive in nesting boxes if the trees aren’t suitable.

They do not like physical interaction with humans and are more than capable of finding their own food. However, you can provide them with mineral supplements and all-purpose vitamins to ensure they are healthy. Always check with your local veterinarian before giving any supplements to ensure they are safe. Luckily, Muscovy ducks are less susceptible to diseases than other duck species.