Musk Duck

Biziura lobata (Shaw, 1796)

1.9 kgWeight

The musk duck (Biziura lobata) is a highly aquatic, stiff-tailed duck native to southern Australia.

Busiest months: January · Most records: Australia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Musk Duck has been recorded at 95 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Western Treatment PlantAustralia7,641 records
Herdsman LakeAustralia1,947 records
Bibra LakeAustralia1,041 records

More places

Lake Wendouree – FairylandAustralia979 records
Lake WallaceAustralia824 records
Lake Monger ReserveAustralia781 records
Tallawarra Ash Pond 3, YallahAustralia601 records
Alfred Cove Nature ReserveAustralia562 records
Jawbone Flora and Fauna ReserveAustralia560 records
Lysterfield ParkAustralia536 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The musk duck (Biziura lobata) is a highly aquatic, stiff-tailed duck native to southern Australia. It is the only living member of the genus Biziura. An extinct relative, the New Zealand musk duck or de Lautour's duck (B. delautouri), once occurred on New Zealand, but is only known from prehistoric subfossil bones.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Musk Duck?

The Musk Duck weighs around 1.9 kg.

Where does the Musk Duck live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: southwestern Western Australia, southwestern Queensland to southern Victoria and southeastern South Australia and Tasmania (southwestern, southeastern Australia). It is most often recorded in Australia.

When is the best time to see the Musk Duck?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Musk Duck endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Musk Duck as Least Concern.

What does the Musk Duck eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Musk Duck in?

It belongs to the family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae), order Anseriformes.

At a glance

Weight: 1.9 kg
Habitat: Wetland
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: On the water surface
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 212 mm
Tail: 105 mm
Bill: 42 mm
Tarsus: 47 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: southwestern Western Australia, southwestern Queensland to southern Victoria and southeastern South Australia and Tasmania (southwestern, southeastern Australia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2