Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)

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Image of a Muscovy Duck in its natural habitat
Birds Duck

Introduction

The Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata, is a large duck in the family Anatidae. It is native to Mexico, Central America and much of South America, where wild birds occupy forested wetlands, rivers, lagoons and other freshwater habitats. Domesticated Muscovy Ducks have been distributed widely and have established feral populations in parts of North America and elsewhere.

Physical Description

The Muscovy Duck is a large, long-bodied duck with a relatively long neck, broad wings and a long tail. Adults are about 66–84 centimetres long, with a wingspan of approximately 137–152 centimetres. Males are substantially larger than females. Reported adult weights vary with sex, population and whether birds are wild or domesticated, but males commonly weigh about 2–4.5 kilograms and females about 1–2 kilograms in wild populations.

Wild birds are generally dark brownish-black or glossy black, often with green or purple iridescence and conspicuous white patches on the wings. The face has bare red or pink skin with prominent fleshy, warty growths, especially around the bill and eyes. These facial caruncles are usually larger and more strongly coloured in adult males.

Juveniles are duller and generally show less-developed facial caruncles and smaller white wing patches. Domesticated birds are highly variable in appearance and may be white, black, brown, pied, buff, blue or other colour forms. Domestic birds are also often heavier and less wary than wild birds.

Range and Habitat

The native range extends from northern and eastern Mexico through Central America and into South America, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, the Amazon Basin, Brazil, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina. Wild populations are also established in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. The species is generally resident rather than migratory, although local movements may occur between feeding, nesting and roosting sites.

Muscovy Ducks favour wooded wetlands, riparian forest, forest pools, oxbow lakes, slow-moving rivers, lagoons, marshes and mangrove wetlands. They may also use savannah wetlands, estuaries and brackish water, although freshwater habitats are often preferred. The species has been recorded from lowland tropical environments to elevations of roughly 800 metres in parts of its range.

Domesticated and feral birds frequently occur around farm ponds, reservoirs, urban parks, golf courses and residential wetlands. These introduced populations should not be confused with naturally occurring wild populations when assessing the species’ distribution or conservation status.

Behaviour and Diet

Muscovy Ducks are mainly active during the day, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Wild birds are often wary and occur alone, in pairs or in small groups. They can fly strongly, despite their heavy build, and commonly perch or roost in trees. Their claws help them grip branches and are also useful when ducklings climb from tree cavities.

The species is usually quiet compared with many other ducks. Males commonly produce hissing sounds, while females use softer calls, coos and trills. Displays include crest raising, head movements, tail wagging and wing lifting. Males may be aggressive towards one another, particularly during courtship and competition for access to females.

Muscovy Ducks are omnivorous. Their diet may include:

  • Aquatic and terrestrial plants, including grasses, sedges, leaves, seeds, roots and tubers.
  • Insects, insect larvae, termites, spiders, worms, millipedes and other invertebrates.
  • Crustaceans, molluscs, small fish and small reptiles where available.
  • Agricultural grains and other supplementary food in areas occupied by domestic or feral birds.

They feed by dabbling in shallow water, grazing along shorelines and probing or grasping food with the bill. In tropical regions, they may break open termite mounds to reach termites.

Breeding and development

Muscovy Ducks usually nest in cavities and hollows in mature trees, often several metres above the ground. They may also use large nest boxes or, when suitable cavities are unavailable, nest on the ground in dense vegetation near water.

The female typically lays 8–15 eggs and performs most or all of the incubation, which lasts approximately 30–35 days. The ducklings are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching and following the female to feeding areas. The female protects and guides the brood, while the young develop strong sibling associations after fledging.

Identification Tips

Look for the following combination of features:

  • A large, heavy-bodied duck with a long neck and a somewhat goose-like profile.
  • Red, warty bare skin on the face, usually most prominent in adult males.
  • Dark, often glossy plumage in wild birds.
  • Large white wing patches that are especially obvious in flight.
  • A long tail and broad wings.
  • Quiet behaviour, frequent perching in trees and use of wooded wetlands.

In parks and on farms, domesticated Muscovy Ducks may be almost entirely white or show extensive brown, buff or pied plumage. Facial caruncles and the bird’s long neck remain useful identification features, but colour alone is unreliable in domestic and feral birds.

A Mallard or other domestic duck may occur in the same urban habitats, but Muscovy Ducks are generally larger, longer-necked and more heavily built, with red facial skin and a smoother, sloping forehead. In parts of tropical South America, the Comb Duck can appear similar, but it has a different head pattern and a prominent bill casque in adult males; Muscovy Ducks are distinguished by their red facial caruncles and large white wing patches.

Conservation Status

The Muscovy Duck is currently assessed globally as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The global assessment does not mean that all populations are secure. Wild birds have declined in some regions, where hunting, egg collection, deforestation, wetland loss and the removal of mature trees used for nesting have reduced habitat quality or local abundance.

Conservation measures include protecting lowland forests and wetlands, regulating hunting, retaining mature trees with suitable cavities and providing nest boxes where appropriate. Local assessments may assign a higher level of concern than the global assessment, particularly where populations are small, heavily hunted or restricted to fragmented habitat. Domesticated and feral populations are widespread, but they should not be treated as a substitute for conserving wild populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Muscovy Duck native?

The Muscovy Duck is native to Mexico, Central America and much of South America. Wild populations occur in forested wetlands, river systems, lagoons and other suitable habitats.

Are Muscovy Ducks migratory?

They are generally resident and non-migratory. Some individuals make short local or seasonal movements between feeding areas, nesting sites and roosts.

How can a Muscovy Duck be identified?

The most reliable features are its large size, long neck, dark plumage, white wing patches and red, warty facial skin. Domestic birds may have very different plumage colours.

What does the Muscovy Duck eat?

It eats a wide range of plant and animal foods, including seeds, grasses, aquatic vegetation, roots, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms, small fish and small reptiles.

Where does the Muscovy Duck nest?

It usually nests in cavities or hollows in mature trees, sometimes several metres above the ground. It may also use nest boxes or nest on the ground in dense vegetation near water.

Is the Muscovy Duck endangered?

The species is globally classified as Least Concern. However, local populations can be affected by hunting, egg collection, deforestation, wetland loss and the loss of large trees containing nest cavities.

References

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