Muscovy Duck

Muscovy Duck
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Cairina Species: moschata
Binomial name
Cairina moschata

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata is a large perching duck.

It breeds inland in central and tropical South America. It is a species of forest lakes and streams, which lays a clutch of 8-15 eggs usually in a tree hole or hollow. It has benefited from nest boxes in Mexico, but is uncommon in much of the east of its range due to persecution. Food is plant material obtained by grazing or dabbling in shallow water.

This species is widely domesticated. Wild birds are all-dark apart from the white in the wings, but domesticated birds, like those pictured, often have other plumage features. They are usually also bulkier than the wild birds.

The male is larger than the female and has a bare face and a lumpy knob on its bill.