Muscovy Duck
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
At a Glance
Most birders know the Muscovy only from having seen the dumpy domesticated version. Wild Muscovies, native to the American tropics, are wary, fast-flying birds of wooded rivers and swamps. Most Muscovies seen in North America are of the barnyard variety, but small numbers of wild birds from northeastern Mexico may appear on the Rio Grande in southern Texas. These big ducks nest in cavities in trees, and cavities large enough have become harder to find as riverside trees have been cut. However, they will also use nest boxes, and many such boxes have been put in place in Mexico by the organization Ducks Unlimited.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Duck-like Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
Florida, Texas
Behavior
Direct Flight, Swimming
Population
550.000
Range & Identification
Description
25 -34" (64 - 86 cm). Very large, and mostly black. White wing patches obvious in flight, not when swimming. Male is larger and glossier than female, with knob above bill. Domesticated forms usually have much white in the plumage.
Size
About the size of a Heron, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, Gray, Red, White
Wing Shape
Broad, Rounded
Tail Shape
Short
Songs and Calls
Not often heard; quiet quacks and grunts.
Call Pattern
Flat, Simple
Call Type
Croak/Quack
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Conservation
Conservation Status
Climate Threats Facing the Muscovy Duck
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.