Stats

Lifespan

8-12 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Flock

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

Central and South America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

This large tropical duck inhabits wetlands across Mexico and South America. It lacks a voice box and communicates by hissing or wagging its tail instead of quacking.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A clutch of eggs rests in a down-lined nest near water, covered and warmed by the brooding female.
2. 2.
   hatchling

   A downy hatchling follows its mother to the water within hours and feeds itself almost immediately.
3. 3.
   juvenile

   A juvenile grows its first true feathers, swimming in the family group and learning to dabble or dive.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown with adult plumage.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Anseriformes

Family

Anatidae

Genus

Cairina

Species

Cairina moschata