Muscovy Duck
A species of Muscovy Duck and White-winged Duck, Also known as Muscovy Scientific name : Cairina moschata Genus : Muscovy Duck and White-winged Duck
Muscovy Duck, A species of Muscovy Duck and White-winged Duck
Also known as:
Muscovy
Botanical name: Cairina moschata
Genus: Muscovy Duck and White-winged Duck
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Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Bernard DUPONT , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The muscovy Duck has a very distinctive appearance that has long intrigued and confused birdwatchers, with its warty face, strange and unique coloring, and widely variable plumage. Its common name is thought to come from the London Muscovy Company back in the 1500s. In traditional Aztec culture, rulers wore cloaks with the feathers of this duck, as a way to honor the Wind God, Ehecatl. Today they can be found both wild and domesticated.
Size
64 - 89 cm
Life Expectancy
8-12 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
8 - 15 eggs
Number of Broods
30 - 31 days
Feeding Habits
Muscovy Duck are omnivores and consume a variety of foods. They forage on plant matter like grasses and seeds, and animal prey such as insect larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, fish, and small reptiles. They feed by dabbling in shallow water, grazing on shorelines, and sometimes breaking open termite mounds.
Habitat
Muscovy Duck predominantly inhabit tropical and subtropical regions, thriving in dense forested areas near lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. They favor habitats with rich vegetation and abundant water sources, such as marshes, swamps, bogs, and riparian zones. The species prefers lower elevations, with a particular affinity for freshwater wetlands, although they may occasionally settle in brackish environments. Muscovy Duck readily adapt to human-altered landscapes, as evidenced by feral populations in urban parks and ponds, especially in the Gulf Coast and Florida.
Nest Behavior
Muscovy Duck show nest site fidelity, with females potentially using the same location for life. Nest-building precedes egg-laying, with care for eggs and young primarily provided by the female, although ducklings can feed themselves shortly after hatching.
Nest Characteristics
Muscovy Duck typically nest in tree cavities or hollows, situated 10-65 feet above ground, though ground nests are also used near water amidst dense vegetation. Nest sites are often large, with boxes measuring around 2 feet high, 1.5 feet wide and deep, featuring an 8-inch entrance. A substrate of sawdust or dried grass lines the nest.
Dite type
Omnivorous
People often ask
General Info
Behavior
Muscovy Duck generally exhibit a social structure characterized by pairing, though they are polygamous in nature. Courtship is marked by subdued displays where males hiss and exhibit physical gestures like tail shaking and wing lifting. Aggression among males is common, notably in aquatic environments, but territories are not maintained. Females solely undertake nesting duties and care for the young, who retain sibling bonds post-fledging. Muscovy Duck's daily routine involves early morning and evening flights to feed, diurnal tree perching, and nocturnal roosting in arboreal group settings. In urban settings, domesticated muscovy Duck often show decreased wariness towards humans.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
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