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Call duck
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| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Distribution |
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| Use | |
| Traits | |
| Colour | about twenty recognised colours[4][5] |
| Classification | |
| APA | [6]: 18 |
| EE | no[7] |
| PCGB | [8] |
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The call duck is a historic breed of small domestic duck.[9][10][11] It is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, where the earliest descriptions and depictions of it date from the seventeenth century. It is similar in appearance to some other breeds of duck, but is much smaller, with a round head and very short bill. Ducks, but not drakes, are very loquacious and noisy, with a piercing high-pitched call that can be heard from far away and from which the name derives.[12]: 88 [13][14]: 157
In the past, call ducks were used as decoy ducks to attract wild ducks into traps.
History
[edit]
The first recorded mentions of the breed are from the Netherlands where it was used as a decoy and known as a coy or decoy duck. The high-pitched distinctive call was used to lure other ducks into funnel traps. Later, hunters would tether call ducks to draw other species within range. It is believed to have originally come from the Far East, although no records of its introduction to the Netherlands exist. Other bantam breeds are known to have been imported to the Netherlands in the seventeenth century and Van Gink, writing in The Feathered World in 1932, supposes "There is a possibility that importations were made by Dutch captains from Japan ... especially as the Call Duck's type is very different from the ordinary European type of duck to sport from it, and since they breed so true they must be a very old-established breed."
The call duck was present in the British Isles by the mid-nineteenth century; an early description is that of James Joseph Nolan, published in Dublin in 1850.[14]: 157 It was among the four breeds of duck included in the first poultry standard – the Standard of Excellence of William Bernhardt Tegetmeier – in 1865.[15]: 54
The phrase "call duck" is derived from the breed's historical use as a live decoy. The small ducks were kept to "call" wild ducks toward hunters by making loud, persistent quacking sounds. In this context, the word call refers to their distinctive vocal behavior rather than a human-given name. The term appears in English records from the 18th and 19th centuries, when the breed became popular among waterfowl keepers in the Netherlands and later in Britain.[16]
Characteristics
[edit]Call ducks are small, with an average weight of approximately 800 g; drakes may weigh up to 100 g more, and ducks up to 100 g less.[4]
Call ducks are recognized in a wide range of color varieties by poultry associations worldwide. The Poultry Club of Great Britain recognizes more than twenty standardized colors, including white, black, blue fawn, apricot, silver, mallard, and pied. In North America, the American Poultry Association (APA) and the American Bantam Association (ABA) recognize several varieties, with white, gray (mallard), snowy, and blue fawn among the most popular.[16]
In the Netherlands, about twenty colours are recognised;[4] about the same number are recognised by the British Waterfowl Association and the Poultry Club of Great Britain in the United Kingdom.[5][17]: 410 [a] In the United States the grey and white varieties were included in the first Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1874; six other colours were added between 1977 and 2007.[6]
Behavior and temperament
[edit]Call ducks are known for their lively and sociable nature. They are often kept in pairs or small groups, as they enjoy interaction with other ducks and can become stressed if kept alone. The breed is notably vocal, producing a high-pitched “call” that can be quite loud, especially among females. This strong voice was originally bred for attracting wild ducks, but in domestic settings it can make them unsuitable for noise-sensitive environments.
In terms of temperament, call ducks are generally friendly and curious. They can become tame with regular human contact and are popular as ornamental or companion ducks due to their manageable size and engaging behavior. However, they require clean water for swimming, secure housing, and adequate space to express natural foraging and social behaviors.
Distribution
[edit]Call ducks are now bred and kept throughout much of the world. The breed remains especially popular in Europe and North America, where it is maintained by dedicated breed clubs and exhibited at poultry shows. In the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, it is one of the most common ornamental duck breeds.[16] Call ducks are also bred in parts of Asia, particularly in Japan and Southeast Asia, where they are valued as companion and display birds.[16]
Varieties
[edit]Australian call duck
[edit]In Australia, a distinct strain known as the Australian call duck has developed, often slightly larger in size and available in a wider range of plumage colors than the traditional European type. The Australian call duck includes both traditional and newer color forms, with breeders producing additional hues through selective breeding. Color patterns can vary between regions, reflecting differences in show standards and local breeding history.[16]
In the second edition of the Australian Poultry Standards, published in 2011, the Australian call duck is described as a separate breed from its European counterpart, with a different range of plumage colours and a larger body size. It has been suggested that it developed independently in South Australia as a dwarf mutation in the domestic mallard.[18]: 22 [19]
Relationship with humans
[edit]Call ducks are often kept as pets, ornamental birds, or in small home flocks. Their friendly and curious nature makes them suitable for interaction with people, and they can become tame with regular handling. They are popular in urban or backyard settings where their small size and engaging personality are appreciated. Their high-pitched vocalizations, however, may make them less suitable for noise-sensitive environments.[16]
Care and breeding
[edit]Call ducks require appropriate housing that protects them from predators and harsh weather. A clean and secure pen with access to water for swimming and bathing is essential. Their diet typically consists of waterfowl feed supplemented with grains, greens, and occasional treats. Good hygiene, proper nutrition, and regular monitoring help prevent common diseases such as duck viral enteritis, avian influenza, and parasitic infections.[16]
For breeding, call ducks usually reach sexual maturity around 5–6 months of age. They lay relatively small clutches of eggs compared to larger duck breeds. Selective breeding focuses on size, color variety, and temperament. With proper care, the average lifespan of a call duck is 7–10 years, though some individuals may live longer in ideal conditions.[16]
Notes
[edit]- ^ These include: abacot, Appleyard, apricot, apricot Appleyard (butterscotch), apricot silver, bibbed, black, blue fawn, blue silver, chocolate, chocolate mallard, chocolate silver, dark silver, dusky mallard, khaki (dusky chocolate mallard), magpie, mallard, pied, silver, white and yellow belly.[17]: 410
References
[edit]
British Waterfowl Association. Call Ducks. British Waterfowl Association, www.waterfowl.org.uk/domestic-waterfowl/call-ducks/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
“Australian Call Duck.” Backyard Poultry, www.backyardpoultry.com/australian-call-duck. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b Transboundary breed: Call. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2022.
- ^ Hollandse Kwaker (in Dutch). Wageningen: Stichting Zeldzame Huisdierrassen. Archived 20 August 2017.
- ^ a b c Jan van Pieterson (August 2012). De Kwaker (in Dutch). European Poultry Society. Archived 25 May 2016.
- ^ a b Call ducks. British Waterfowl Association. Accessed August 2022.
- ^ a b APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
- ^ Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
- ^ Ducks. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
- ^ Dave Holderread (2001). Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 158017258X.
- ^ Chris Ashton, Mike Ashton (2001). The Domestic Duck. Ramsbury, Marlborough: The Crowood Press. ISBN 9781847979704.
- ^ Victoria Roberts (2008). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, sixth edition. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424.
- ^ Chris Ashton, Mike Ashton (2009). Keeping Ducks and Geese. Cincinnati, Ohio: David & Charles. ISBN 9780715331576.
- ^ Dave Holderread (2011). Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, second edition. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781603427456.
- ^ a b James Joseph Nolan (1850). Ornamental, Aquatic, and Domestic Fowl, and Game Birds: Their Importation, Breeding, Rearing, and General Management. Dublin: The Author.
- ^ William Bernhardt Tegetmeier (editor) (1865). The Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Poultry, authorized by the Poultry Club. London: Groombridge and Sons, for the Poultry Club.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Call Ducks". British Waterfowl Association. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ a b J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 9781119509141.
- ^ Hamish Russell (June–July 2010). The Australian Call Duck. Australasian Poultry. 21 (2): 22–23.
- ^ [Victorian Poultry Fanciers Association] (2011 [1998]). Australian Poultry Standards, second edition. Ballarat, Victoria: Victorian Poultry Fanciers Association Limited. ISBN 9781921488238.