How to Know If a Muscovy Is a Male or Female?

Muscovy ducks are a popular type of domestic duck used for meat and egg production. These ducks are most easily distinguished from domestic mallards by their distinctive red skin and bulbous tissue that covers the area around their eyes. It is often more difficult to differentiate male Muscovy ducks (drakes) from females (hens) than it is to sex domestic mallards. In mallards, males have telltale curved tail feathers and differences in plumage that make identification easy. Muscovy females and males have identical plumage, but there are ways to determine their gender.

Instructions

1. Listen to the vocalizations the Muscovy makes. Neither sex is particularly loud, but males are likely to hiss, while females are more likely to make a call that resembles a trill.

2. Compare the sizes of adult Muscovies. Males are much larger than females, often weighing nearly twice as much (about 10 to 12 pounds, compared to about 7 pounds for females). If the duck appears roughly the size of a small goose, it is likely a male.

3. Observe the caruncles (the red, warty and fleshy material on the Muscovy's face). Males will begin to develop their caruncles at a younger age than females. Mature males will have noticeably larger and more developed caruncles than females.

4. Observe young Muscovy ducklings in profile. In addition to having a slight knob on the top of their heads, males also will have a more pronounced breast and thicker legs than females, and will appear to have a longer body, from head to tail.

Tips & Warnings

• The only way to sex ducks younger than four weeks is through vent sexing. This process can be harmful to the ducklings if performed incorrectly, so it should only be done by those with ample experience.

References

• Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary: Sexing a Muscovy Duck
• Muscovy Duck Central: Determining Gender in Muscovy Ducklings
• University of California Cooperative Extension: Raising Ducks in Small Flocks

Resources

• Purdue: Raising Waterfowl