Muscovy duck
Cairina moschata
Muscovy duck
Muscovy ducks can be seen in Malkia Park in the exposition called “lake”. They are characterized by their lobes around the nape of the neck. At Malkia Park, these ducks are thriving. They reproduce and raise their young without problems. When looking for these birds on the lake, you don’t have to have as much patience as with other species, as they are usually the first ducks that a visitor will encounter at the lake. They are very curious and do not even accept fences around the lake. They have their own paths, so you don’t have to worry when you find these ducks outside the lake. They will find their way home when they want.
These animals cannot be adopted.
The bird is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers of males being iridescent and glossy, while females are duller. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as is the beak, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these colours. It may have white spots or streaks on its wings, which become more obvious during flight. Typically, both sexes have pink or red lobes around the nape of the neck, with the male’s being larger and more brightly coloured. Sexual dimorphism is mainly evident in size, as the female is about half the size of the male.
This non-migratory species commonly inhabits forested marshes, lakes, streams, and nearby pastures and agricultural crops, and often roosts in trees at night. Muscovy duck food consists of plant parts (such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of aquatic plants and grasses, as well as terrestrial plants including agricultural crops) obtained by grazing or “fishing” for small fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, or millipedes in shallow water.
Males tend to be aggressive towards each other, often fighting over food, territory, and females. Females fight with each other less frequently.
This species does not form stable pairs. The breeding season is both on land and in the water.
The female takes care of the clutch herself, leaving the nest only for the necessary short period of time. The ducklings stay with their mother for 10-12 weeks, with the mother keeping them warm (especially at night) until their bodies can generate enough heat of their own. The drake often stays with the chicks for several weeks as well – guiding them as they search for food and providing protection.
Muscovy ducks were domesticated by various Native American cultures in the Americas when Columbus arrived in the Bahamas. A few were transported on Columbus’s ship, the Santa Maria, and then sailed back to Europe in the 16th century.
Muscovy duck
Cairina moschata
Muscovy duck
Date of hatching
Various
Order
Family
BODY LENGTH
76 cm male
64 cm female
Weight
male up to 7kg, female ca half of his weight
LIFE EXPECTANCY
8-12 years
INCUBATION PERIOD
35 days
NUMBER OF EGGS
8-16 white eggs
Occurrence
Central and South America
Food
grass, plants, seeds, small aquatic animals
Muscovy ducks can be seen in Malkia Park in the exposition called “lake”. They are characterized by their lobes around the nape of the neck. At Malkia Park, these ducks are thriving. They reproduce and raise their young without problems. When looking for these birds on the lake, you don’t have to have as much patience as with other species, as they are usually the first ducks that a visitor will encounter at the lake. They are very curious and do not even accept fences around the lake. They have their own paths, so you don’t have to worry when you find these ducks outside the lake. They will find their way home when they want.
These animals cannot be adopted.
The bird is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers of males being iridescent and glossy, while females are duller. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as is the beak, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these colours. It may have white spots or streaks on its wings, which become more obvious during flight. Typically, both sexes have pink or red lobes around the nape of the neck, with the male’s being larger and more brightly coloured. Sexual dimorphism is mainly evident in size, as the female is about half the size of the male.
This non-migratory species commonly inhabits forested marshes, lakes, streams, and nearby pastures and agricultural crops, and often roosts in trees at night. Muscovy duck food consists of plant parts (such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of aquatic plants and grasses, as well as terrestrial plants including agricultural crops) obtained by grazing or “fishing” for small fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, or millipedes in shallow water.
Males tend to be aggressive towards each other, often fighting over food, territory, and females. Females fight with each other less frequently.
This species does not form stable pairs. The breeding season is both on land and in the water.
The female takes care of the clutch herself, leaving the nest only for the necessary short period of time. The ducklings stay with their mother for 10-12 weeks, with the mother keeping them warm (especially at night) until their bodies can generate enough heat of their own. The drake often stays with the chicks for several weeks as well – guiding them as they search for food and providing protection.
Muscovy ducks were domesticated by various Native American cultures in the Americas when Columbus arrived in the Bahamas. A few were transported on Columbus’s ship, the Santa Maria, and then sailed back to Europe in the 16th century.
