Muscovy Duck

British Birds: Muscovy Duck

Jake Davies

The Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata, is not native to the UK. It originates from the Americas, primarily Central and South America but is found as far north as southern Texas. It was domesticated by various Native American peoples, and was introduced from there to the rest of the world as a domestic duck, the only domestic duck in the UK not descended from the Mallard. It is quite a large duck, sometimes believed to be a goose, and is prized mostly for its meat. Those found in the wild are feral or descended from feral, and so are often found near humans. There are numerous theories on the origin of the name, but none seem certain. Most commonly they are black and white with the balance of colors being variable. Most noticeable are the red faces which develop wart-like caruncle as they age, especially with the drakes. Caruncle is a natural fleshy growth like the wattle of turkeys or the combs of some chickens.