BirdUp · Species
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata(Linnaeus, 1758)
Updated
At a glance
The Muscovy Duck, listed as Least Concern. It can be seen year-round.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Very common
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a Muscovy Duck look like?
The Muscovy Duck is identified by its extensive bare, red, carunculated facial skin; large white upperwing patches; and very large, heavy-bodied, long-tailed duck.
The Muscovy duck is a species of duck native to the Americas, from the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico south to Argentina and Uruguay. The species has been domesticated, and feral Muscovy ducks can be found locally in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and in Central and Eastern Europe.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 01
Extensive bare, red, carunculated facial skin
Prominently bare, warty (carunculated) skin, typically red or dark, covering much of the face. Males have a distinct fleshy knob at the bill base.
- 02
Large white upperwing patches
Conspicuous white panels on the upperwing, often visible on the folded wing and prominent in flight. Absent in all-white morphs.
- 03
Very large, heavy-bodied, long-tailed duck
A massive, robust duck with a broad, flat, and proportionally long tail, giving it a distinctive profile among ducks.
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a Muscovy Duck?
The Muscovy Duck is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
4 photos
The BirdUp app
Log your next Muscovy Duck in the field
A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.