Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 2.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Cairina
- Species moschata
Where it lives
Southern Texas to northern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.4 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Muscovy Duck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Muscovy Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA s Texas to n Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.4 kg, with a wing length of about 34.5 cm and a tail of around 16 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Muscovy Duck?
The Muscovy Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 2.4 kg.
Where does the Muscovy Duck live?
The Muscovy Duck is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA s Texas to n Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Muscovy Duck belong to?
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Muscovy Duck eat?
The Muscovy Duck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Muscovy Duck migrate?
The Muscovy Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Muscovy Duck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Muscovy Duck make?
1 real field recording of the Muscovy Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Muscovy Duck's range?
The Muscovy Duck has a mapped global range of about 14.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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