Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Muscovy Duck
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Cairina moschata
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How to recognize it
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Body length 65–90 cm; males noticeably larger than females
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Wild adults: dark plumage, large white patches on the wings
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Red fleshy bumps above the bill and around the eyes in both sexes
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Male gives a low, breathy call; female a quiet trilling coo
About the species
At a park lake, a dark Muscovy Duck may show a glossy sheen and broad white patches on its wings. Red, bare skin surrounds the bill and eyes, with fleshy bumps that are larger on males; males also have a short crest at the back of the head. Feral ducks with domestic ancestry can have much more white, so their plumage varies.
On land, it grazes; in shallow water, it dips and dabbles for food, then often heads up into a tree to roost at night. Males give a low, breathy call, while females make a quiet trilling coo. Males may fight over food or territory.
Feral groups turn up around urban and suburban lakes, while wild populations live by wooded swamps, lakes and streams, often near grassland or farm crops. They eat aquatic plants, grasses and crops, along with insects, worms, crustaceans and small fish. The species is non-migratory, so local populations remain through the year.
Where to find
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At urban and suburban lakes where feral populations occur, look for Muscovy Ducks feeding in shallow water.
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At farms and nearby grassland, watch for ground-feeding among grass and crops.
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In areas with feral populations, look in yards under shrubs, on apartment balconies, and beneath roof overhangs for a female incubating her clutch.
