Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)

The Muscovy duck is a large duck native to Mexico and Central and South America. There are also feral breeding population in North America in and around public parks.

Identification

Adult male and female Muscovy ducks are similar in appearance apart from the female being much smaller.

Adults

Adults are blackish with large white wing patches. Both sexes have a nude black-and-red or all-red face. The male has a low erectile crest of feathers. Domesticated birds can vary in color from black, brown to all white.

Gallery

Muscovy duck

San Francisco, California (2010)

Related Page Hierarchy

Species

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates, sea squirts)

Class: Aves (birds)

Order: Anseriformes (waterfowl)

Family: Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans)

Northern pintail (Anas acuta)

White-cheeked pintail (Anas bahamensis)

American wigeon (Anas americana)

Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)

Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)

Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris)

Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)

Brant (Branta bernicla)

Canada goose (Branta canadensis)

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)

Snow goose (Chen caerulescens)

Australian wood duck (Chenonetta jubata)

Black swan (Cygnus atratus)

Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)

Mute swan (Cygnus olor)

White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)

Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Common merganser (Mergus merganser)

Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Common eider (Somateria mollissima)

Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)