Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

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.