The Muscovy is a [[Ducks|duck]] species (Cairina moschata) distinct from all other domestic duck breeds, which are derived from the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Muscovies are native to Central and South America and were domesticated by indigenous peoples prior to European contact. They are known for their lean, beef-like dark meat, quiet nature (they do not quack), and unique appearance with a red, caruncled face. Muscovies are the only domestic ducks not descended from the Mallard and cannot produce fertile offspring with Mallard-derived ducks.
The Muscovy duck was domesticated in South America by the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Andes and the Amazon basin. European explorers encountered the species in the 15th and 16th centuries and brought it back to Europe. The name "Muscovy" is a misnomer, as the bird does not originate from Moscow or Russia; the name may derive from the Muisca people of Colombia or from the Muscovite Company, a 16th-century English trading company that transported the birds.
Muscovies spread throughout Europe and Africa following European contact. They were introduced to North America by European colonists and have also established feral populations in many warm climates worldwide. The breed was admitted to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1971.
Muscovies are large ducks with a distinctive appearance. The face is bare of feathers and covered in red or black caruncles (warty growths), most prominent in males. The bill is hooked at the tip, and the legs are short with sharp claws adapted for perching. Males are significantly larger than females, weighing 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kilograms), while females weigh 5 to 8 pounds (2.3 to 3.6 kilograms). Muscovies occur in wild-type black-and-white, white, and blue varieties.
The meat is dark, lean, and similar in flavor to roast beef or veal, with approximately 50 percent less fat than Pekin duck. The fat is concentrated in the skin rather than throughout the meat. Muscovies are excellent foragers, capable of flying and perching, and are strong fliers in their lighter weights. The hens are superb mothers and hatch and raise larger clutches than Mallard-derived ducks. Muscovies are largely silent, communicating through hisses and soft sounds rather than quacks.
Muscovies are raised for meat on homesteads, where their lean, flavorful meat and efficient foraging are valued. Hens will hatch and raise two to three broods of 10 to 16 ducklings per year without human intervention, making them self-sufficient reproducers. The breed's flying ability requires wing clipping or covered pens for containment.
Muscovies are more tolerant of heat than Pekins and are well-suited to warm climates. They require less access to open water than Mallard-derived ducks and are comfortable in dry housing. Their perching behavior allows them to roost on elevated structures at night.