Muscovy duck

Scientific name: Cairina moschata

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are large, dark iridescent ducks with white wing patches and distinctive facial wattles (red/pink bare skin); females are smaller and duller, often dark brown with white markings. Both sexes have long necks and muscular builds relative to dabbling ducks.

Size and weight

Males 76–86 cm, 1.0–1.6 kg; females 65–74 cm, 0.6–1.0 kg.

Habitat

Muscovy ducks favor freshwater wetlands, ponds, marshes, and riverine corridors with dense riparian vegetation. They tolerate both lowland and moderate-elevation water bodies with nearby perching and nesting cover.

Distribution

Native to Central and South America; feral populations now established in North America, Europe, and Asia. Prefer warm climates and permanent water bodies.

Diet

Primary diet includes aquatic plants, seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and occasionally small fish and crustaceans; they dabble and upend in shallow water.

Behaviour

Diurnal and crepuscular foragers, often seen perched on logs or banks in daylight; relatively quiet ducks with hissing vocalizations. Pairs or small flocks; males are territorial and roost communally on water at night.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks and droppings along muddy banks and shallow margins; muscovy prints are larger and broader than dabbling ducks. Approach from downwind along dense vegetation or reed beds where they rest midday; early morning and late afternoon push birds from roosts to feeding areas. Glass open water and perching sites from a distance before attempting a stalk.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 12 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.