Demography and Populations

Censusing Muscovy Ducks is problematic as they prefer forested areas and do not form large flocks. In the early 1980s a nest box program in northeast Mexico increased their numbers but no reliable data has been collected since so their current status in unknown (Woodyard and Bolen 1984). A small population in Texas near Laredo in Starr, Zapata and Webb counties appears stable but increased activity by Homeland Security on the Rio Grande often disperses birds along the river (Brush and Eitniear 2002). Elsewhere throughout its range population status greatly depends on local food resouces and predation levels.