Shetland duck

Shetland

Conservation status	FAO (2007): critical[1]: 124  DAD-IS (2020): unknown[2]
Country of origin	Scotland
Distribution	Scotland
Use	eggs
Traits
Weight	Male: 2 kg Female: 1.8 kg
Egg colour	white
Classification
EE	no[3]
PCGB	no[4]
Duck

The Shetland duck is a breed of domestic duck originating in the Shetland Islands of Scotland.^[5] It is critically endangered.^[6]

History

The Shetland duck is thought to have evolved from the Pomeranian or Swedish Blue, due to its similar appearance. It is thought that the Vikings brought the Shetland to the British Isles^[5][7]

Characteristics

The Shetland is a small, hardy breed; it is active and forages well.^[8] It is essentially a smaller version of the Swedish Blue, but with black plumage where the Swedish has blue;^{[9]: 457 [10]: 489} the black has glossy green and blue lights in it.^[8] The birds usually have a white bib, and may have some white on the head; they may become paler as they age, in some cases turning almost entirely white.^[8] The bill and legs are black in the duck: in the drake, the legs may carry some orange, and the bill may be tinged with yellow.^[8]

Use

The Shetland is a good layer; the eggs are of a good size and range in colour from white to grey.^[8]

See also

• List of duck breeds
• Shetland animal breeds

References

1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
2. Breed data sheet: Russkii Tyazhelovoz / Russian Federation (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2020.
3. Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
4. Ducks. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
5. "Shetland - Duck breed" Britannic Rare Breeds. Retrieved 2014-3-25.
6. "The Shetland Duck". Raising Ducks. 18 April 2019.
7. "Knowledge base".
8. Shetland. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed January 2020.
9. Victoria Roberts (2008). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, sixth edition. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424.
10. J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 9781119509141.