Muscovy Ducks Eat Mosquitoes

In North and South America, the Muscovy Duck can be found in both wild and residential settings. Feral populations of these animals are now found in Hawaii, Louisiana, Florida, and some other states. Native Americans originally bred them in South America. They are also known as pato casero, or "backyard duck," and pato mudo, or "silent duck," in Spanish. An ancient term used to identify the region around Moscow is "Muscovy."

Some sources suggest that the term derives from a trading business that moved the ducks between the New and Old Worlds. Muscovy ducks are a big species that can grow up to 30 inches long and weigh around 15 pounds. Their normal plumage consists of feathers that are black and white, with pink or red wattles surrounding the bill. Muscovy ducks consume a diverse range of foods, including grasses, fish, amphibians, reptiles, crabs, and insects.