The Muscovy duck, known scientifically as Cairina moschata, is a large duck species native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are popular as pets and as a meat duck breed. So why are they called “Muscovy” when they originated in the Americas?
The Origin of “Muscovy” in the Duck’s Name
The term “Muscovy” in the name Muscovy duck refers to the Muscovy region of Russia. This name was given to the ducks because they were imported to Europe from the Americas by English and Dutch traders through the Muscovy Company in the 16th and 17th centuries.
At that time, there was no distinction made between Moscow, the capital of Russia, and the Muscovy region which was the name for the Grand Duchy of Moscow. So the ducks became known as “Muscovy” in reference to the Russian region where they were first introduced to Western Europe.
The Muscovy Company was an English trading company chartered in 1555 to conduct trade in Russia. It opened up trade routes between England and the Muscovy region. Through this company, many goods were traded between Western Europe and Muscovy, including the Muscovy ducks which were brought over from America.
Early Importation to Europe
The Muscovy duck made its way to Europe in the early 16th century shortly after the Spanish colonized the Americas. The ducks were transported from Mexico and Central America across the Atlantic Ocean through the trade routes that connected Spain’s new colonies with the mother country.
From Spain, the ducks were traded overland across Western Europe. They reached England and France in the 1550s and later Russia in the late 1500s. This rapid spread across Europe within just 50 years of Columbus’ first contact with the Americas showed how quickly goods were transported across the new trade routes.
English and Dutch traders of the Muscovy Company then brought the ducks to the Muscovy region of Russia where the name “Muscovy ducks” was firmly established. The ducks were prized for their meat in England and Russia and started being bred on farms in both regions.
Characteristics of Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks have several characteristics that distinguished them from European ducks which led to them being prized as exotic imports:
- They are large ducks – males can grow up to 15 lbs while females reach 10 lbs. This provided a good amount of meat.
- They have long claws on their feet which enable them to perch on trees and nest in tree cavities.
- They hiss instead of quacking which was unique compared to domestic ducks.
- The males have a distinctive large red face mask which adds to their exotic look.
These unique features helped popularize Muscovy ducks as an exotic pet duck breed. Their size also made them a productive meat breed for farming operations.
Spread to the Rest of Europe
From England and Russia, the Muscovy duck continued to spread across the rest of Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries:
- France – Muscovies arrived in France in the early 1600s as lively trade connected Western Europe. They were mainly used for meat production.
- Germany – Germans imported the ducks from Russia in the late 17th century. German duck farmers started intensive breeding programs to select for fast growth.
- Netherlands – As a trading powerhouse, the Netherlands quickly acquired Muscovies for farming. They improved breeding stock with selections from Germany and England.
- Italy – Wealthy Italian nobility imported the ducks as exotic additions to their private menageries in the 1700s.
- Austria – Austria imported Muscovies from Germany and Hungary in the mid-1700s. They were popular on farms and estates.
Through this gradual spread across Europe’s trade routes, Muscovy ducks had been established on two continents within just 200 years of Columbus’ voyages.
Later Introduction to North America
Muscovy ducks originated in Mexico and South America but were not introduced to the wild in North America until the 20th century. This was remarkably late considering they had reached Europe 300 years earlier.
A small population of escaped Muscovy ducks became established in the wetlands of southern Texas in the early 1970s. They slowly increased their range along the Rio Grande River and Gulf Coast marshlands. By the 1990s, sizable feral populations were permanent residents in these areas.
In the late 1980s, Muscovies started becoming common across Florida after escaping captivity or being released. They are now well-adapted there and have spread up the Atlantic coastline to the Carolinas.
California also has growing populations of feral Muscovy ducks originating from farm escapes. They have blended in well with the state’s wetland ecosystems.
As Pets and Farm Animals
Muscovy ducks continue to be popular as pets and farm animals worldwide today. Some key facts about their domestic status include:
- They are the main duck breed raised for meat across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe due to their large size and efficient feed-to-meat ratio.
- Muscovy ducks produce less fatty meat than common duck breeds like the Pekin duck.
- They are popular as backyard ducks for small farms because they eat slugs, snails, and insects.
- As pets, they are known to have pleasant personalities and become very attached to their owners.
- Their small quacks and lack of nighttime noisy vocalizations make them suitable for suburban settings.
Muscovies remain in high demand today even after centuries of domestication because of their continued reputation as an excellent multipurpose duck breed.
Conclusion
In summary, the Muscovy duck got its misleading name because it was brought to Europe from the Americas through the Muscovy Company’s trade routes in the 16th century. Not knowing its Mexican and South American origins, Europeans referred to it as the “Muscovy” duck after the Russian region where it first became popularized.
The duck’s large size, tasty meat, and exotic qualities like the red mask on the males made it a hit across Europe and later the world. It remains popular as a pet, exhibition animal, and profitable meat breed to this day. So while the duck is 100% American, it will likely always be known as the Muscovy thanks to some crafty naming by early Dutch and English merchants.
