The Muscovy Duck (*Cairina moschata*) is a large, distinctive waterfowl native to Central and South America, easily recognized by its striking, warty red facial caruncles, which are most prominent on males. Unlike typical ducks, it has a long, broad body, a flat tail often held horizontally, and sharp claws on its feet for perching in trees. Its plumage varies widely—from wild glossy black-and-white to domesticated all-white or pied—and it produces a soft, hissing sound rather than a loud quack. A unique feature is its ability to fly long distances despite its size, and it is also prized for its lean, flavorful meat, which has a taste more akin to roast beef than traditional duck.

Faits amusants

Despite their name, Muscovy ducks are not from Moscow; they are native to Central and South America. They have sharp claws on their webbed feet, allowing them to perch in trees like a raptor, and their hiss is often likened to the sound of a snake, which they use defensively. Unlike most ducks, they lack the loud, classic quack—females produce a soft trill or coo, while males only hiss and puff. Their caruncles, the red, fleshy growths on their faces, are not just for show; males develop larger ones during mating season to attract females, and the size and shape are as unique as a fingerprint. In a quirky twist, they are known to eat small reptiles and insects, making them one of the few duck species with a notably carnivorous streak.

Habitats et répartition

The Muscovy Duck is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, ranging from Mexico and Central America through much of South America, including countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Its natural habitat consists of forested wetlands, swamps, marshes, lagoons, and slow-moving rivers, where it perches in trees and nests in cavities. Feral populations have also become established in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and New Zealand, where they thrive in urban parks, ponds, and agricultural areas with access to water and abundant vegetation.

Comportements & Reproduction

Muscovy ducks exhibit a polygynous mating system, where a single dominant male typically guards and mates with a small harem of females. Courtship involves the male performing low, bobbing head movements and soft, hissing calls, while females indicate receptivity by lowering their bodies and tilting their heads. Unlike many ducks, Muscovy males are highly territorial and aggressive toward rivals, often engaging in physical fights. Females are solely responsible for nest building, usually in tree cavities or dense ground cover, and they incubate a clutch of 8–16 eggs for about 35 days. A unique reproductive strategy is their strong tendency to “dump” eggs—females frequently lay eggs in other females’ nests, leading to communal broods where one hen may incubate eggs from multiple mothers. After hatching, ducklings are precocial and follow the hen, but the male plays no role in rearing. Socially, Muscovy ducks are semi-arboreal and form loose, hierarchical flocks outside the breeding season, with dominant males controlling feeding and roosting sites.

Alimentation

The Muscovy duck is an omnivorous forager with a highly varied diet that shifts with seasonal availability, primarily consisting of plant matter such as seeds, grains, grasses, aquatic vegetation, and fallen fruits, alongside a substantial portion of animal protein including insects, spiders, small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and worms. A particularly interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its strong preference for perching and roosting in trees, which leads it to frequently forage on land for acorns and berries rather than exclusively in water like many other ducks. Unlike dabbling ducks that tip forward to feed, Muscovies use their sharp claws to grip branches and scratch through leaf litter for prey, and they are also known to actively hunt and swallow small rodents or lizards when available. Additionally, their diet includes a surprising amount of carrion and human refuse in urban or farm settings, making them highly adaptable scavengers.

Couleurs

The Muscovy Duck has a predominantly black body with iridescent green and purple sheens on the back and wings, contrasted by white wing patches and a white or pale gray head in wild-type birds. Its most unique feature is the bright red, warty caruncles on the face and a black knob at the bill base, with domestic varieties showing white, black, or pied patterns. There is no specific camouflage adaptation; the bold facial caruncles likely serve for social signaling rather than concealment.