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Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschataOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

Muscovy Duck Breeding Male Portrait
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Related Birds

Neotropic Cormorant

General

Muscovy Duck: Large, usually domesticated duck; wild birds are all dark with white wing patch that is visible in flight; domesticated birds occur in any combination of white and black to iridescent black. Head is slightly crested; face is bare, may be black or red or a combination of the two, and has a pronounced wart-like caruncle at the base of the bill. Female is much smaller and duller; juvenile lacks caruncle.

Range and Habitat

Muscovy Duck: Prefers forests near water where it roosts in trees at night and nests in tree cavities. Native to Mexico, Central, and South America. Wild birds are restricted to the lower Rio Grande valley. There is a large feral population in southern Florida and Texas.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"ssssssssssssssssssssssss", "quack", "croak"

Interesting Facts

  • The Muscovy Duck doesn’t swim as often as other ducks due to their underdeveloped oil glands.
  • The domesticated Muscovy is the only domestic duck not bred from mallard stock.
  • They are also called the Common Duck, Forest Duck, and Greater Wood Duck.
  • A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including "a brace of ducks", "flush of ducks", "paddling of ducks", "raft of ducks", and a "team of ducks."


Author

Jane Wright Splitbar
Range Map for Muscovy Duck
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Cairina moschata
Length25 - 35 Inches
Wingspan57 Inches

Muscovy Duck

Muscovy Duck: Large, usually domesticated duck; wild birds are dark with white wing patch that is visible in flight; domesticated birds occur in any mix of white and black. Crested head; bare face, may be black or red or a combination, has large wart-like knob at the base of the bill.

● Song: "ssssssssssssssssssssssss", "quack", "croak"

● Foraging & Feeding: Muscovy Duck: Feeds on vegatation by dabbling in ponds, lakes and, rivers. Eats insects and seeds found in grain fields.

● Breeding & nesting: Muscovy Duck: Nest boxes or tree cavities are lined with little or no down, 9 to 60 feet above ground. Female incubates eight to ten white eggs, that have a green sheen, for 35 days.

● Similar species: Muscovy Duck: Neotropic Cormorant has a more slender body, longer, thinner neck and tail, and lacks white patches on wings.

Flight Pattern

Strong direct labored flight
Muscovy Duck Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Muscovy Duck: Prefers forests near water where it roosts in trees at night and nests in tree cavities. Native to Mexico, Central, and South America. Wild birds are restricted to the lower Rio Grande valley. There is a large feral population in southern Florida and Texas.
BreedingPolygamous
PopulationUncommon to locally common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight102.4 Ounces