Almost all varieties of domesticated duck are descended from the wild Mallard or Muscovy Duck.
Domestic ducks have been farmed for thousands of years for their meat, eggs, and down, although some domestic ducks are also now bred for show or as pets.
There are many different breeds of domestic duck in a variety of different coloured plumages. The British Waterfowl Association classifies them into several groups :- Heavy Ducks, Light Ducks, Indian Runner Ducks, Bantam Ducks, and Call Ducks.
Heavy Ducks:
Aylesbury
Blue Swedish
Cayuga
Muscovy
Pekin
Rouen
Saxony
Silver Appleyard
Light Ducks:
Abacot Ranger
Campbell
Orpington
Welsh Harlequin
Indian Runner Ducks:
Indian Runner
Saxony
Trout Runner
Bantam Ducks:
Appleyard
Black East Indian
Miniature Crested
Miniature Silver Appleyard
Silver Bantam
Call Ducks:
Apricot Mallard
Apricot Silver
Bibbed
Black
Blue Dusky
Blue Mallard
Blue Silver
Chocolate
Khaki
Magpie
Mallard
Mallard Dusky
Mallard Pied
Silver
White
Yellow Belly