The Muscovy duck is not from Russia, but it is the world's largest duck.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Despite its name, the Muscovy duck has no connection to Russia. This large, warty-faced bird is native to the Americas and was domesticated by Indigenous peoples long before European arrival. It is a unique species that does not descend from the mallard and possesses some truly remarkable biological traits.

The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a distinct species of perching duck that stands out for its size and appearance. Males are the largest ducks in the world, often weighing over 7 kg, while females are significantly smaller, typically half the size of their male counterparts. Unlike the common mallard, the Muscovy duck is not a close relative, and its evolutionary placement has been a subject of scientific debate, moving between different subfamilies within the Anatidae family.

Domestication of the species began with Indigenous peoples in Peru and Paraguay long before the Spanish arrived in the early 1500s. The name 'Muscovy' is likely a misnomer, potentially stemming from the London-based Muscovy Company, which traded in exotic goods during the 16th century, or perhaps a corruption of the name of the Muisca people of Colombia. Today, these ducks are found globally as domesticated livestock, prized for their lean, tender meat, which is often compared to roast beef.

In the wild, these birds are wary, forest-dwelling creatures that nest in tree cavities and possess strong claws for perching. They are nonmigratory and communicate primarily through hissing and grunting rather than quacking. Their reproductive biology is equally fascinating; males engage in lek mating behavior and possess a unique helical penis, while females have evolved counter-coiling vaginas to manage forced copulation. Despite their tropical origins, they are hardy and have established feral populations in various parts of the world, including Florida and parts of Europe.

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