"...when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again."
-William Beebe

Australian Spotted Duck

Despite its misleading "down under" name, the Australian Spotted duck actually originated in the United States. It was developed in the 1920's by John C. Kriner and Stanley Mason of Pennsylvania with a foundation stock of Call, Mallard, Northern Pintail, and an unidentified wild Australian duck. These breeds were kept together and allowed to interbreed for several generations. The preferred offspring were then selected and bred, thus forming the new breed. In 1990, the Australian Spotted became more readily available to the public but, despite this, its overall numbers are very low. (Holderread 2001, 31)

The Australian Spotted is a bantam breed whose weight averages 2.0 to 2.2 pounds. Its body is teardrop shaped and its legs are centrally located, making the body carriage almost horizontal. Heads are oval and moderately streamlined without the distinctively high forehead and puffy cheeks of a Call duck. (Holderread 2001, 32) The Australian Spotted duck's coloration is complex. Depending on the variety, the drake's head is green (Greenhead), blue (Bluehead), or silver (Silverhead). A white band encircles the neck, the sides of the body and breast are deep burgundy, and the center of the breast extending under the body is white. The middle of the shoulders and back is dark gray, wings are a dark grayish-brown , tail is light gray, and the tail undercushion is black. The bill is greenish-yellow, the eyes are brown, and the shanks and feet are orange. The Greenhead Australian Spotted duck's body, head, and neck are a fawn color, spotted with dark brown. The Bluehead and Silverhead's colorations are the same as the Greenhead's--except the Bluehead's flecking and spots are bluish-gray; and the Silverhead's flecking and spots are silver. (Holderread 1991, 2-3)

"Along with their diminutive size and delightful plumage, Australian Spotteds have proven to be personable and calm. They are exceptionally hardy and excellent foragers that are a great help in reducing slugs, snails, sow bugs, Japanese beetles, other insect pests in gardens and yards and will eliminate mosquito larvae from ponds and pools." They are active fliers, but will generally stay close to home; clipping the primary flight feathers of one wing will help ensure this. "Despite their small size, the Australian Spotteds have well-developed breast muscles and extra fine textured meat, all of which add up to a delectable single or double serving sized duck." Australian Spotted ducks are the best layers of the bantams and will produce 50-125 cream, blue, or green shelled eggs yearly. This breed is a fast maturing duck, with drakes normally expressing courtship behavior when three to four weeks old. (Holderread 1991, 3)

When choosing breeders, select active, bright-eyed, strong-legged birds. Color patterns should conform to the descriptions offered above and the weight should approach the standard.

ALBC's 2000 census of domestic waterfowl in North America found 30 breeding Australian Spotted ducks. Only one person reported breeding the Australian Spotted, and no primary breeding flocks with 50 or more breeding birds exist. (Bender, 4) Numbers of this bird are dangerously low. Consider joining the effort to recognize and preserve this breed.

Status: Study

Bibliography:
Bender, Marjorie E. F. D. Phillip Sponenberg, and Donald Bixby. Taking Stock of Waterfowl: The Results of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy's Domestic Duck and Goose Census. Pittsboro, NC: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, 2000.

Holderread, Dave. Breed Bulletin #9119 Australian Spotted Ducks. Corvallis, OR: The Duck Preservation Center, 1991.

Holderread, Dave. Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks. Pownal, VT: Storey Communications, Inc., 2001.

Breed clubs and associations:
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, NC 27312, (919) 542-5704, email albc@albc-usa.org, www.albc-usa.org

American Poultry Association, PO Box 306, Burgettstown, PA15021, email secretaryapa@yahoo.com, www.amerpoultryassn.com

Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities, Dr. Charles R.H. Everett, Secretary, 122 Magnolia Lane, Lugoff, SC, 29078, email crheverett@bellsouth.net