Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Also known as: Muskovy Duck
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
Omnivore
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
2.4 kg
About This Species
In its native range across Central and South America, look for this large duck perching in trees near wooded swamps, ponds and slow rivers, a habit unusual among ducks. It is also widely kept and has established feral populations in parks and urban waterways worldwide, where it is often tame and easy to observe at close range. Early morning near water is a good time to see wild birds foraging or loafing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Wild populations in their native range are considerably more wary than the tame feral or semi-domestic birds found in parks, so treat truly wild individuals with more caution and distance.
- Avoid feeding birds, since this alters natural behaviour and can spread disease.
- Legal protections and management differ between native-range wild populations and introduced or feral populations, so check what applies locally.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
685,924 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 2.4 kg
Photo
(c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.