Feathered
Obsessions
Muscovy
Cairina Moschata
The Muscovy duck is a very unique duck indeed. Indigenous to Mexico, Central, and South America it is said that in Peru the Incas domesticated the Muscovy. Then from Columbia the Conquistadors traveled with Muscovy to Spain. Out of Europe the Muscovy managed to travel to Africa and even to Australia, Asia , and North America. Now around the world Muscovy can be found. Muscovy, however, are not like most domestic ducks. The majority of domestic ducks derive from the Mallard family, but not the Muscovy. The name Muscovy is shrouded in mystery as it is only speculated where the name came from since Muscovy means " from the Moscow region" and Muscovy are neither from the region nor were they introduced in that time . Many theories are available: Musco Duck being short for Mosquito Eating Duck, Musk Duck because of the musky smell of the ducks once written about, Muisca (now Columbia) being changed by Europeans to be easier to say , and even a company that once traded the ducks called Muscovite Co. giving their name to the ducks as was common occurrence for traders to pass their name to products they traded. Muscovy are also common referred to as Barbary Duck in the Culinary trade. Some regions use the term Barbary for Domestic and Muscovy for Wild. While other regions Use Barbary as a Dressed duck and Muscovy as a live duck.
The Wild Muscovy are black and even dark brown with white one wings, bows, and throats. Today Domestic Muscovy can be found in a wide array of colors including Black , Chocolate, Cream, White, Silver, Blue , Self blue , Lilac , Pied (in all above colors). Their patterns can be Laced, Rippled, and Barred. Darker colors have a stunning iridescent beetle sheen to the feathers. The face of the Muscovy is very distinctive with a pronounce carnucle at the base of the bill. Caruncling can cover from bill to neck while some have less and others more. Drakes typically having more than hens and many seem to nearly cover the eyes and nostrils. Caruncles are very bumpy, typically a bright red colored tissue. Many people find this to make them "ugly" while fans of the Muscovy find it their character. Muscovy have wide, flat tails and low erectile crest of feathers.