  We present an update of the D meson decay constant f_D using the Highly
Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action for valence charm and light quarks on
MILC N_f = 2+1 lattices. The new determination incorporates HPQCD's improved
scale r_1^{N_f = 2+1} = 0.3133(23) fm, accurately retuned bare charm quark
masses and data from an ensemble that is more chiral than in our previous
calculations. We find f_D = 208.3(3.4) MeV. Combining the new f_D with D -> \mu
\nu\ branching fraction data from CLEO-c, we extract the CKM matrix element
|V_cd| = 0.223(10)_{exp.}(4)_{lat.}. This value is in excellent agreement with
|V_cd| from D semileptonic decays and from neutrino scattering experiments and
has comparable total errors. We determine the ratio between semileptonic form
factor and decay constant and find [f^{D -> \pi}_+(0) / f_D ]_{lat.} = 3.20(15)
GeV^{-1} to be compared with the experimental value of [f^{D -> \pi}_+(0) / f_D
]_{exp.} = 3.19(18) GeV^{-1}. Finally, we mention recent preliminary but
already more accurate D -> \mu \nu\ branching fraction measurements from BES
III and discuss their impact on precision |V_cd| determinations in the future.
