Muscovy duck
| Muscovy Duck | |
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| Species: | C. moschata
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| Cairina moschata | |
The Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata is a large perching duck that breeds inland in southern Florida and central and tropical South America. It is a species whose normal habitat is forest lakes and streams. It is a non-migratory bird and often roosts in trees at night. Its most distinguishing feature is its bare red face, with a more pronounced caruncle at the base of the drake's bill; other distinguishing features include a low crest of feathers that it can raise on its head, long talons on its feet and a wide flat tail. The drake has a dry hissing call, and the hen a quiet trilling coo.
A Muscovy hen can set up to three times each year, and lays a clutch of 8-21 eggs usually in a tree hole or hollow. The eggs incubate for 35 days.
It has benefited from nest boxes in Mexico, but is uncommon in much of the east of its range due to persecution. Its diet consists of plant material obtained by grazing or dabbling in shallow water.
This species is widely domesticated and then known as Barbary Duck. This breed is popular because it has stronger-tasting meat, like roast beef, and is less noisy. The carcass of a muscovy duck is also much heavier than most other types of ducks, which make them ideal for the dinner table. Wild birds are all-dark apart from the white in the wings, but domesticated birds, like those pictured, often have other plumage features. They are usually also bulkier than the wild birds. Muscovy hens range from 5 to 10 pounds (2 to 5 kg), while drakes are commonly 10 to 15 pounds (5 to 7 kg). Domesticated birds have re-escaped into the wild and now breed outside the native domain, including western Europe and the United States. It can be crossed with the domestic duck in captivity to produce hybrids which are known as Mulard Duck ("mule duck" because they are sterile) and are often used in the production of foie gras.
Matings are promiscuous and a form of rape, where the male overpowers the female. They nest in tree cavities or on the ground. In suburban and urban areas, they nest under shrubs in yards or on condominium balconies or under roof overhangs. Clutch size is usually 8 to 15 eggs. The incubation period is about 30 to 35 days (Johnsgard 1975a, 1978). It is said that each adult duck produces about 1/3-pound of dung per day. In Florida they are considered "invasive". They are protected in Florida by Statute 828.12, which makes shooting or hurting them in anyway punishable by law. Suggest means to curtail them within the law - Stop feeding them - Repel and harass with low noises or by chasing - Control flock size by locating nests and vigorously shaking eggs to render inviable. Return eggs to nest so hen won't renest.
Gallery
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A female Muscovy Duck
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Muscovy Duck
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Domesticated muscovy ducks -
Muscovy Mule
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Young Muscovies
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Muscovy Duckling -
Muscovy Female with Ducklings
