The Muscovy duck is native to Mexico and South America.  At some point they were brought to the U.S. and can be found in various parts today.  They can be domesticated and can be pets.  It is one of the oldest domesticated fowl species in the world.  The Aztec rulers wore cloaks made from their feathers. They think the name came from Muscovy Company, formed in London in 1555, which transported these ducks to England and France. We saw a couple at Grand Harbor last year.  They are very distinct with their strange wart faced look.  The amount of the warts and size depends on the duck. 

They nest in tall trees – from 10-65 feet above ground – in the cavities of mature trees.  The male duck is the largest on In North America weighing up to 12 pounds while the female is half their size.  The males may mate with multiple females and even with different breeds.  The females may lay from 60-120 large white eggs a year – typically 8-15 at a time.  The female defends the nest and raises the ducklings.  The ducklings have sharp claws and hooked bills to be able to climb out of the nest.  They are featherless at hatching.

They eat both plants and animals and in the water are dabblers – tipping forward with the rear end out of the water.  They can breed at about 28-29 weeks and have a life span of 7-8 years.