The Aylesbury duck is a breed of domesticated duck, bred mainly for its meat and appearance. It is a large duck with pure white plumage, a pink bill, orange legs and feet, an unusually large keel, and a horizontal stance with its body parallel to the ground. The precise origins of the breed are unclear, but raising white ducks became popular in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, in the 18th century owing to the demand for white feathers as a filler for quilts. Over the 19th century selective breeding for size, shape and colour led to the Aylesbury duck.
Prize-winning Aylesbury duck (front) and drake (rear), 1873
Purebred Aylesbury duck
Stock Aylesbury ducks at Weston Turville, circa 1900
Pekin ducks are similar to the Aylesbury, but with orange bills and a more upright posture.
The domestic duck is a subspecies of mallard that has been domesticated and raised for meat and eggs. A few are kept for show, as pets, or for their ornamental value. Almost all varieties of domesticated ducks, apart from the domestic Muscovy duck, are descended from the mallard, which was domesticated in China around 2000 BC.
Domestic duck
White Pekins are raised for meat.
Muscovy ducks produce a richly-flavoured meat, and are kept as pets.
Indian Runner ducks stand upright, do not fly, and may produce over 300 eggs per year.