Muscovy Duck

Fascinating facts about the Muscovy Duck

• Male Muscovy ducks can stretch a helical penis to 19 cm (7 in) in just 0.3 seconds, a speed rivaling a snapping rubber band. This rapid erection likely gives males a fleeting advantage in the scramble for mates, while females counter with spiraled vaginas that twist opposite ways, a hidden arms race that limits forced copulation. The extreme genital co-evolution shows how sexual conflict can drive bizarre anatomy in birds.
• A full-grown drake measures 76-84 cm (30-33 in) and can tip the scales at 3-4 kg (6.6-8.8 lb), while a hen is a bit smaller at 71-76 cm (28-30 in) and only 1.25 kg (2.8 lb). Their wings span 137-152 cm (54-60 in).
• A Muscovy hen lays a clutch of 8-15 white eggs, each 6.2-7.1 cm (2.4-2.8 in) long and 4.4-4.7 cm (1.7-1.9 in) wide, and sits on them for 30-31 days. After hatching, the chicks stay with their mother for 10-12 weeks, learning to feed.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Muscovy Duck

In the dappled light of the tropical forest, the Muscovy Duck glides effortlessly, its iridescent feathers glistening like polished onyx as it navigates the murky waters with a serene and dignified air. With a gentle rustle of its wings, it rises from the underbrush, its bright red and black plumage a striking contrast to the emerald green of its surroundings, as it makes its way through the dense foliage with a quiet confidence. As it moves, the duck's webbed feet barely ripple the surface of the water, leaving behind a trail of subtle disturbance that belies its presence, a testament to its remarkable adaptability in this lush and vibrant world.

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