Duck of the Week: Cayuga Duck

The origins of the beautiful Cayuga duck breed remain a mystery after two centuries.

A male Cayuga duck with a deep green head and mostly black body. Photo by Eric Dobis. CC BY-SA 2.0.

They were one of the most popular domestic ducks for many decades, but no one is quite sure where the Cayuga duck came from. First appearing in Cayuga County farms in upstate New York around 1840, these ducks remained a staple in the American duck industry for many decades. They were the primary duck breed used for meat until late in the 19th century.

Known for their dark black bodies and stunning iridescent green highlights, they were assumed to be a variety of mallard for many years. This assumption was also supported by the curled tailfeathers sported by the males of the species.

Males of the species also sport upturned tail feathers common to most mallard species. Photo by Elsemargriet.

Nonetheless, Lewis Wright claimed in his 1885 text, The Book of Poultry, that Cayuga ducks are directly related to the English black ducks of the Lancashire region in England. According to a local hunter, Cayuga ducks were nearly identical in appearance to the black ducks living in the area during that century.

This is somewhat compelling, but claims of them originating in either America or England are backed up by very little corroborating evidence. All we know now is that they were first introduced to American farms in 1840 and then exported to the United Kingdom in 1851.

Regardless of which claim is more correct, I believe we can all agree that Cayuga ducks are stunning birds to look at. The rich black of their bodies and bills contrasted by the emerald green of their heads and highlights make Cayuga ducks one of my absolute favorites.

What do you think about Cayuga ducks? Will we ever discover the truth of their origin? Or shall we simply be happy to have them around, the wondrous ducks that they are?

Thanks for reading!