Extraordinary Duck Breeds

Pekin Duck

Chances are you have already seen Pekin ducklings before, they have bright yellow plumage, an orange bill, shanks, and feet. Bred from Mallard in China, the Pekin Duck, also refered to as the Long Island duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) is a breed of domesticated duck used primarily for egg and meat production

Mallard Duck

The duck you know. Mallard Ducks are the most abundant and widely distributed waterfowl species in North America. With the exception of the muscovy duck, mallards are the predecessors of all domestic ducks. They have been domesticated in Southeast Asia for over 2000 years and in Europe since at least the 12th century. Highly adaptive to varied environments and human activity, nesting in urban settings including backyards.

Black Swedish Duck

Daffy Duck, of Disney fame, is probably a Black Swedish – the only difference is that Daffy has white on his neck and a Black Swedish has white on its chest. Black Swedish Ducks are a hardy, strong ducks with good foraging ability.

Khaki Campbell Duck

The Khaki Campbell was developed in England at the turn of the century. In small, undisturbed flocks they are very good layers. It earned its reputation as an excellent egg layer in the 20s and 30s on the Jansen duck farm in Holland. It is an excellent forager and capable of sitting on and hatching its own eggs.

BuffleHead Duck

The "butterball", with its showy white crest is one of North America's smallest diving duck species. Like its close relative, the common goldeneye, the bufflehead nests in cavities in trees close to water, often in the abandoned homes of flickers and other woodpeckers. The bufflehead arrives late in spring and departs just in advance of freeze-up. It breeds in forested areas from west-central Alaska through western Canada and the northwestern states.

Mandarin Duck

Considered one of the most beautiful ducks, and frequently featured in Oriental art, the Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity, because it mates for life. It is said that if the mandarin gets separated from its mate, it will keep longing for its other half and die of loneliness. In the wild, Mandarin Ducks breed in densely wooded areas near shallow lakes, marshes or ponds. They nest in cavities in trees close to water.

Northern Pintail Duck

The Northern Pintail Duck ranges over more of the earth then any other waterfowl. Males have a chocolate brown head, white foreneck, blue-grey bill with black stripe and a long “pin” tail. Wings are grey with an iridescent green patch. Females are mottled brown and have blue bills with dark spots or mottling

Tufted Duck

The Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds. The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name. The adult female is brown with paler flanks, and is more easily confused with other diving ducks.

Ruddy Duck

Most duck species have one or two characteristics that make them different. But with ruddy ducks, almost everything is unusual. Ruddies can be recognized by their small size and tail feathers, which they often hold erect above the water. Ruddy ducks are shy, spending much of their time surrounded by the cattails that grow in shallow water at the edge of wetlands. A ruddy duck hen has the remarkable ability to lay a clutch of eggs, at the rate of one per day, that can exceed her own body mass!

Wood Duck

Considered by many to be the most beautiful of the North American waterfowl. Unlike most other ducks, the Wood Duck has sharp claws for perching in trees and normally nests in tree cavities. Sometimes confused with another "wood" duck, the mandarin duck.