Crested Cayuga Ducks have spectacular, greenish-black plumage, which makes the adults one of the most beautiful of all poultry displays. They are one of the hardiest of all domesticated ducks and are active rustlers and foragers. The crest is the result of the autosomal dominant crest (Cr) gene that is lethal to developing embryos when present in the homozygous state (Cr Cr). Since there is a lethal gene involved in producing crested ducks, special mating considerations must be made.