Domesticated ducks are birds raised for meat, eggs and down. Many ducks are also kept for show, as pets or for their ornamental value. Almost all of the varieties of domesticated ducks are descended from the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata).
Some of these ducks have been farmed for thousands of years. They aren't as popular as chickens because chickens have much more white lean meat and are easier to keep confined. This makes the price for chicken meat much lower, whereas duck is comparatively expensive.
The various breeds of domestic duck then sometimes interbreed with wild birds and various confusing colour combinations turn up to catch out the unwary.
For show purposes It's the same principal as breeding various colours of Budgie's, Gerbils, Rabbits, etc. Birds and animals with the required colour pigment are bred and interbred until they bare little resemblance to the wild stock they started from
hope this makes sense
cheers, John
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For wildlife information in the Clyde Recording Area see ... -clydebirds-
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