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Today we’re talking about the “king” of Costa Rican ducks – the Muscovy duck, a duck so beloved by humans that it split into two subspecies.
The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is known as Real duck The Spanish word for “Royal Duck”. Translated into English, it is the Royal Duck, but I really can’t figure out how it got such a nickname. I’m sure this is not the reason, but it can be declared the king of all ducks in Costa Rica because it is the largest duck in Costa Rica.
The males are bulky, with broad wings, and can weigh several kilograms. Females are significantly smaller. Both sexes are generally black with a hint of metallic green, and a white patch on their wings. The males have red caruncles on their faces, which is a fancy word that is defined as “a small, fleshy growth that is a normal part of an animal’s body.” To you and me, that means they have red, fleshy bumps on their faces.
The natural range of the Muscovy duck is wide, stretching from Texas to Argentina and Uruguay. For centuries, these ducks shared this territory with different indigenous human populations, who saw the value of domesticating them early on. Columbus encountered domesticated Muscovy ducks in the 16th century.day century, and transported some of them back to Europe on the Santa Maria.
Domestic ducks have bred far enough away from wild populations that they are considered a separate subspecies (Cairina moschata domestica). Domestic ducks are heavier than wild ducks, making it more difficult for them to fly. They are also distinguished by the fact that they often have a larger proportion of white feathers than their wild counterparts. Both domestic and wild Muscovy ducks can be found in Costa Rica.
Wild Musk Ducks inhabit a variety of wet areas. They can be found in more closed areas such as forested rivers and streams, mangroves, and wooded swamps, but can also be found in open areas such as swamps and grain fields. They swim around in large groups and feed mainly on seeds and plants, and occasionally insects, frogs, or crustaceans.
They often roost in trees at night. They also often nest in trees with natural cavities. The female incubates 8 to 10 white eggs, which take about 35 days to incubate.
I see Muscovy ducks in the fields from time to time. I’m always on the lookout for birds when I drive, so I sometimes see them flying across the road in Guanacaste. Other than that, I see them most often along the Tempisque River and in the sugar cane plantations in the Tempisque Basin, which agrees with the literature that Muscovy ducks are most abundant near Palo Verde National Park.
I have some videos of wild Muscovy ducks captured with cameras placed near a river that runs through a woodland area. I also filmed a domestic Muscovy duck in a tree in an area with lots of people around. I will include both subspecies in the video below so you can notice the difference between them.
About the Author
Founder Vincent Losasso Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoringis a biologist who conducts research using camera traps throughout Costa Rica. Learn more about his projects Facebook or InstagramYou can also email him at: vincent@guanacastewildlifemonitoring.com
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