Call duck

This 1874 drawing shows the Call Duck's rounded body.

The Call Duck is a bantam breed of domesticated duck raised primarily for decoration or as pets.

The Call Duck is an energetic and active duck.small, weighing around 0.68 kg (1.5 lb) with a plump bowl-shaped body; a wide, rounded head; tiny, broad bill and short legs. It is vocal with a high pitched call. The Call Duck comes in a variety of standard colours including White, White-Bibbed Blue, Buff, Pastel, and Magpie. Nonstandard colours include Saxony, Spot, Khaki, Self-Chocolate, Cinnamon and Crested. It produces 25–75 eggs a year.

The first recorded mentions of the breed are from the Netherlands where it was used as a decoy and known a Coy or Decoy Duck. The high-pitched distinctive call was use to lure other ducks into funnel traps. Later, hunters would tether Call Ducks to draw other species within range of the guns. It is believed to have originally come from from the Far East, although no records of its introduction to the Netherlands exist. Other bantams breeds are known to have been imported to the Netherlands in the 17th 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 to the ordinary European type of duck to sport from it, and since they breed so true they must be a very old-established breed".

It was introduced to Britain by the 1850s. In 1865, it was one of the first six waterfowl breeds to be standardized there, but by the middle of the 20th century they were rare. Determined efforts by a few breeders repopularized the breed and today they are common. In the US, the Gray and White varieties were listed in the first Standard of Perfection in 1874. They are popular exhibition birds and win more duck championships in shows in North America than any other breed.

References

• Dave Holderread. Storey's guide to daising ducks. Storey. pp. 24–26. ISBN 1-58017-258-X. {{cite book}}: Text "date 1978" ignored (help)
• "History of Call Ducks : Decoy Ducks". Call Duck Association UK. Retrieved 11 December. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)