# Muscovy Duck (*Cairina moschata*)

The Muscovy duck (*Cairina moschata*) is a bird of the family Anatidae, in the order Anseriformes.

> The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck native to Mexico, Central America and South America that perches in trees and nests in tree holes. Wild birds are glossy black with white wing patches; domestic Muscovies, kept for meat since before Columbus, come in many colours and have red, warty facial skin. It is listed as Least Concern, although wild numbers are falling.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN-style):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Forested wetlands from southern Texas and Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina. Feral domestic birds live in many other countries.
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/muscovy-duck/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Anseriformes
- **Family:** Anatidae
- **Genus:** Cairina

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Cairina moschata |
| Diet | Omnivore: plants, seeds, insects, small fish |
| Habitat | Forested rivers, swamps and lagoons |
| Weight | Average about 2.4 kg; domestic males much heavier |
| Wingspan | 137–154 cm |
| Lifespan | Typically 7–8 years |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018) |

## A duck that perches

Unlike most ducks, Muscovies have strong claws and often roost in trees. They nest in tree hollows near water, which is why wild birds need forest along rivers and swamps. The native range runs from southern Texas and Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina.

## Wild and domestic

Wild Muscovies are black with a green and purple gloss and large white wing patches, and have little bare skin on the face. People in tropical America domesticated the species long before Europeans arrived. Domestic birds are heavier, often white or pied, and have large red caruncles around the eyes and bill.

## Not a mallard

Almost all other farm ducks descend from the mallard. The Muscovy is a separate species, and crosses between Muscovies and mallard-derived ducks, called mule ducks, are sterile. Muscovies are also unusually quiet: males hiss and females give soft trills instead of quacking.

## Status

BirdLife International lists the Muscovy duck as Least Concern (2018) but reports that wild populations are decreasing, mainly through hunting and loss of forested wetlands. Feral domestic birds now live in towns in the southern United States, Europe and elsewhere.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is it called a Muscovy duck?

The name does not come from Moscow. One theory links it to the musky smell of the birds; another to a trading company. Its origin is uncertain.

### Do Muscovy ducks quack?

Rarely. Males make a breathy hiss and females a quiet trill.

### Can Muscovy ducks fly?

Wild birds fly well and perch in trees. Heavy domestic males often struggle to fly far.

### How long do Muscovy ducks live?

Typically 7–8 years.

## Sources

- [BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/muscovy-duck-cairina-moschata)
- [Animal Diversity Web: Cairina moschata. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cairina_moschata/)
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
- [Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/)

## Help protect the Muscovy Duck

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/muscovy-duck/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.