Cayuga Duck
(Common Duck-American Heritage)
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Species: Various species of this genus
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HABITAT AND RANGE:
This duck is native to America during
colonization. The breed was popularized
in Cayuga Lake in New York State. |
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The Cayugas are most likely a cross
between the Black East Indie Duck (a
domesticated duck), the “common duck”
and the Buenos Ayres (a wild American
duck). Adult Cayuga ducks weigh between
6 to 8 pounds and are characterized by a
black bill, shanks, toes and black
plumage which is a beautiful iridescent
beetle green in the correct light. As
the duck grows older, some white
feathers will begin to appear. |
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DIET:
These ducks eat worms and slugs, along
with grass and duckweed. |
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REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
Cayuga Ducks will more often sit and
hatch their own eggs more than any other
domesticated breed of ducks. This bird
averages 100-150 eggs per year. The
shells of these eggs are, at first,
black and they progress to light gray,
blue, green or white as time passes.
Incubation for the eggs is 28 days. |
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STATUS IN WILD:
These are domesticated animals. |
