Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)

by Winston D. Munnings

Uploaded 7 Oct 2009

© Winston D. Munnings

The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck which is native to Mexico and Central and South America. A small wild population reaches into the United States in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. There also are feral breeding populations in North America in and around public parks in nearly every state of the USA and in the Canadian provinces; feral populations also exist in Europe. Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird, it adapts to icy and snowy conditions down to –12°C (10°F) and below without ill effects.

Make no mistake about it, the Muscovy duck is no Peking duck. So don’t be fooled at the dining table. Peking Duck or Peking Roasted Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the Imperial Era, and is now considered one of China’s national foods. For this dish, ducks are especially bred and, after 65 days, are slaughtered and seasoned before being roasted in a closed or hung oven.
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck which is native to Mexico and Central and South America. A small wild population reaches into the United States in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. There also are feral breeding populations in North America in and around public parks in nearly every state of the USA and in the Canadian provinces; feral populations also exist in Europe. Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird, it adapts to icy and snowy conditions down to –12°C (10°F) and below without ill effects.

Make no mistake about it, however, the Muscovy duck is no Peking duck. So don’t be fooled at the dining table. Peking Duck or Peking Roasted Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the Imperial Era, and is now considered one of China’s national foods. For this dish, ducks are especially bred and, after 65 days, are slaughtered and seasoned before being roasted in a closed or hung oven.

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