Call ducks are a unique breed of domestic duck known for their small size and loud, distinctive call. They originated in ancient China and were brought to Europe and North America in the 19th century as ornamental fowl. Today, call ducks remain relatively rare compared to more common duck breeds like Mallards or Pekins.
Brief History of Call Ducks
Call ducks get their name from the loud, raspy call they make, which sounds like “pee-eek, pee-eek.” This distinct vocalization led to them also being known as “decoy ducks” or “piping ducks.” For centuries, hunters would keep call ducks to use their calls to lure wild ducks into traps. Their small size of only 2-3 pounds also made them easy to transport.
Call ducks originated in China and were brought to Europe in the late 1700s as exotic pets. They quickly became popular for their ornamental plumage and loud vocalizations. The ducks were first imported to North America in the mid-1800s and were recognized as a unique breed by the American Poultry Association in 1874.
While call ducks were initially kept for hunting and as pets, farmers soon realized they were also good egg layers and could control insect pests. Today, call ducks are mainly kept for exhibition, as pets, and for egg production on a small scale.
Rarity of Call Ducks
So just how rare are call ducks compared to other duck breeds? Let’s look at some numbers:
- There are approximately 2 million ducks raised for meat in the U.S. annually. The most common commercial duck breeds are Pekin and Muscovy ducks.
- There are about 200,000 ducks registered with the American Poultry Association each year. The most popular registered breeds are Mallards, Pekins, and Runners.
- In contrast, only around 2,000 call ducks are registered with the APA every year.
So while millions of meat and egg-laying ducks are raised commercially, only a few thousand call ducks are registered each year. This suggests call ducks make up less than 1% of all ducks in the United States.
Global Population of Call Ducks
Looking beyond the United States, call ducks have enjoyed greater popularity in certain parts of Europe and Asia.
- In the United Kingdom, call ducks have been a traditional exhibition breed since the Victorian era. There are over 5,000 call ducks registered annually with the UK Poultry Club.
- Germany and the Netherlands also have long traditions of breeding and exhibiting call ducks. Estimates suggest there may be over 50,000 call ducks in these countries.
- Call ducks remain popular as pets and exhibition birds in their native China. However, exact population numbers are difficult to find.
While the global call duck population likely numbers in the hundreds of thousands, this is still small compared to the billions of ducks raised worldwide for meat, eggs, and feathers. Overall, call ducks make up less than 1% of all ducks globally based on available data.
Why Are Call Ducks So Rare?
If you’re wondering why call ducks are relatively rare compared to other duck breeds, here are some of the main reasons:
- Not used for commercial production – Call ducks are poor egg layers and too small to be raised for meat. So they’re not useful for large-scale farming.
- Viewed mainly as ornamental – Call ducks are kept more as pets and for exhibition rather than for food production.
- Not the best foragers – Their small size makes call ducks weaker foragers compared to larger duck breeds.
- Seen as niche/novelty – For many duck owners, call ducks appeal more as a novelty pet rather than a productive farm animal.
In summary, call ducks are rare because they’re not commercially viable and are viewed as specialty/novelty birds by most duck owners.
Call Duck Conservation
Due to their small global population, call ducks are considered a rare breed in need of conservation efforts. Here are some key facts about call duck preservation:
- The Livestock Conservancy includes call ducks on their Conservation Priority List as a breed that needs monitoring.
- In the UK, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust categorizes call ducks as a “minority” breed with between 1000-5000 breeding birds left.
- No global population estimate exists for call ducks. More data is needed to fully assess their conservation status.
- Maintaining genetic diversity is crucial in the small call duck population to avoid inbreeding issues.
To help conserve call ducks, most breeding is focused on exhibition and hobby farming rather than commercial production. Heritage farms, private breeders, and waterfowl conservancies all play a role in ensuring call ducks remain a sustainable rare breed.
Conclusion
In summary, call ducks are considered a rare breed of duck, making up less than 1% of all ducks worldwide. Their unique vocalizations and ornamental qualities have secured their place as a novelty bird and exhibition breed for duck enthusiasts. While they number in the hundreds of thousands globally, work is still needed to monitor and conserve the call duck population. As a specialized and historic breed, call ducks remain a unique quack in the waterfowl world.
