Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschataOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

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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.

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

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Muscovy Duck

Muscovy Duck

Flight Pattern