By MrPanyGoff (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata

Status.

Category E*

Native Range

Central and South America. Resident from Mexico and much of the central and north-eastern South America.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

British Occurrence

NBN atlas has 15,250 records as at end 2024. Map Here.

The domesticated form "domestica" is widespread in Britain and around the world. Breeds in Britain, possibly sustainably and investigations are taking place to see what role supplementary feeding has. Between 3 and 12 pairs are known to have bred in the period of the most recent report on non-native breeding species (2012 -2014) but this is almost certainly under-reported.

Muscovy Duck were domesticated by native Americans and brought to Britain in the early 16th century. They are disinclined to swim, walk or fly and are killed by dogs and foxes. They foul and erode the banks of lakes where they reside and are seen as a nuisance by many.

Where to see Muscovy Duck in Britain

The wild form can be seen at these sites.

Discover more about this bird with

Sources

https://www.nonnativespecies.org/non-native-species/information-portal/view/606