Muscovy Duck (often referred to simply as Muscovy)

A very large, heavy-bodied duck. Males are much larger than females and feature distinctive red, fleshy caruncles around the face and bill. Plumage is typically dark with white wing patches, though domestic varieties vary widely in color.

Bicolor pattern; predominantly iridescent black or deep brownish-black with striking, stark white patches on the wing coverts

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs providing a rigid, windproof surface for flight; plumulaceous at the very base

Thick, sturdy central rachis, longitudinal white or black depending on position; barbs are tightly knit at a sharp angle

Smooth, glossy, and highly water-resistant; feathers often exhibit a green or purple iridescent sheen in sunlight

Outer wing (primaries); the white patches are located on the wing coverts and primaries of adult birds

Large size, iridescent black plumage, white wing patches, and 'warty' red facial skin (caruncles)

Wooded swamps, lakes, ponds, and increasingly common in urban parks and suburban canals

Native to Central and South America; widely introduced and established as feral populations throughout Florida and the Gulf Coast

Feral populations act as opportunistic foragers, eating aquatic plants, small fish, and insects; they can be invasive in some regions

Domesticated Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) can be confused, but they lack the red facial caruncles and large white wing patches

Unlike most ducks, Muscovy ducks prefer to roost in trees and have strong claws on their feet to help them grip branches

Commonly raised for meat and eggs globally; historically significant to indigenous peoples in the Neotropics for food

Look for large, heavy ducks with red facial skin and flat tails; they often hiss rather than quack

Feathers on the pictured individual appear slightly ruffled but generally intact; no significant signs of parasitic wear visible