Rare Duck Breeds
A duck breed is deemed rare if organizations like the Livestock Conservancy or the Rare Breeds Survival Trust conduct surveys revealing a significant decline in its breeding population. If a duck has a global population of fewer than 1000 birds, its status is considered critical. If there are around 5000, it is threatened and is considered under watch if its population worldwide is around 10,000.
Why Do Some Duck Breeds Become Rare
- Competition with Chickens — Ducks face significant competition from chickens, which generally have higher egg and meat production rates. For example, the Hookbill was once popular as a dual-purpose duck for eggs and meat. In the present day though, it struggles to compete with the higher productivity of chickens.
- Limited Range — Certain duck breeds are often localized to specific regions. For instance, the Shetland Duck is an exclusive resident of the Shetland archipelago in Scotland.
- Competition with Other Ducks — When a duck breed is less capable of producing meat or eggs, it will lose favor with breeders and be reared less often. For instance, the Aylesbury lost popularity once the Pekin became one of the most well-known meat ducks worldwide.
List of Rare Duck Breeds
| Breed | Status | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Magpie | Critical, around 60-100 birds left worldwide | Eggs and meat |
| Hookbill | Critical, with around 1000 individuals left worldwide | Eggs and meat |
| Shetland | Critical, on the brink of extinction | Eggs |
| Australian Spotted | Critical | Exhibition |
| Abacot Ranger | Critical; went extinct in its native UK | Show |
| Stanbridge White | Critical; was believed to be extinct at one point | Eggs and meat |
| Aylesbury | Critical | Meat |
| Black East Indian | Threatened | Ornamental |
| Bali | Threatened | Eggs, also show |
| Silver Appleyard | Threatened | Eggs and meat |
| Saxony | Threatened | Eggs and meat |
| Orpington | Threatened | Eggs and meat, also show |
| Cayuga | Under watch | Meat |
| Silver Bantam | Under watch | Ornamental |
| Welsh Harlequin | Under watch | Eggs and exhibition |
| Miniature Silver Appleyard | Under watch | Show |
| Rouen | Under watch | Meat, also show |
| Indian Runner | Recovering | Ornamental |
Despite all the challenges involved, the efforts of the aforementioned organizations and individual breeders have successfully preserved multiple rare ducks. One such success was the Indian Runner, which had been crossbred extensively with other ducks throughout Europe, leading to a decline in the breed’s numbers. Eventually, thanks to several conservation efforts, the population stabilized and is now classified as “recovering.”
