The Khaki Campbell is only a domesticated breed of the Mallard,
developed mainly for its eggs. Similarly the white breed, the
Aylesbury Duck, was developed for meat. Both these date from
about 200 years ago. (Book of British Birds, Readers Digest
which seems to say the Indian Runner is another breed, developed
about 2000 years ago in neighbouring Java).
It's good that some books for birders show breeds - in my
experience of Australia Mallards which look like the wild
species are relatively uncommon. But where do you stop ? There
are 70 or so breeds of chooks, many varieties of the Rock
Dove.... And it's more important in some ways to be able to
identify hybrid Pacific Black DuckXMallards.
Michael Norris
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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