Cayuga ducks are a hardy breed that was developed in the USA. They are now a rare breed that is mainly kept for poultry showing, although they are good producers of meat and eggs. It was once thought they came from a local duck population, although other research has shown they could have been derived from an old breed of English black duck.

The usual variety is black with a green sheen to the feathers. As they age, more white feathers come through after each molt. They have quiet, docile temperaments, are not flighty and are easy to tame. The females can lay around 150 eggs per year. At the start of the laying season the eggs are black in color, and they lighten to white up as the season progresses.

Cayuga ducks are excellent foragers that eat garden pests such as slugs and snails, and they enjoy a free range set up. They are tolerant of colder climates. Mature males weigh around 3.6 kg and the females 3.1 kg.