Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschata

 

 

 

Muscovy Duck Muscovy Duck Muscovy Duck

The Muscovy Duck's Latin name means musk duck from Cairo and "Muscovy" means from Moscow but the Muscovy Duck comes in fact from the Central Americas (including Mexico, southern US and north South America); the names were given just to mean from somewhere exotic (like Guinea fowl). Wild Muscovy Ducks are glossy black with white wing patches . . .

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. . . and a slight greenish metallic sheen. All domestic breeds of duck are descended either from Mallards or from Muscovies. The domestic Muscovies have been bred with much more green, white (including all white) and variegation. They are heavy birds with thicker, stronger legs than Mallard types. The large clawed feet are for roosting in trees at night.

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The male Muscovy has much more red fleshy caruncled skin on his face than the female

Muscovy female Muscovy female Muscovy Duck

In fact the wild Muscovy female may have only a little dark-coloured facial skin, as above

Wild Muscovy male
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Female Muscovies

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Muscovy Duck Muscovy Duck with ducklings Muscovy Duck with ducklings

with ducklings

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MORE MUSCOVIES:    
 
Muscovy ducklings Muscovy juveniles