Muscovey Duck

Scientific Name

Cairina moschata

size/weight/height

Weight:
males 7.8 - 8.9 lbs.
• females 3.9 - 4.4 lbs.

adaptations/coloration

Color: domestication has resulted in white,
pale ash, gray & barred •
body is brown-black • wings are metallic green • males have red fleshy knob above bill
Claws: strong pointed to perch in trees

behavior

Movement: gait-limping effect • nod head every 2nd step
Vocalization: no vocal cords • don't quack - instead make a hissing sound

reproduction/lifespan

Breeding: several times a year
Chicks: little pointed claws • long stiffened tail feathers
Parenting: good parental care

diet

Wild: grains, grasses & insects
Zoo: 4-grain scratch, game bird & lettuce

habitat/range

wooded habitat • South America

status

not listed

other

domesticated by South American Indians before arrival of Europeans

oregon zoo exhibit

Education Programs