Shetland duck
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Distribution | Scotland |
| Use | eggs |
| Egg colour | white/grey |
| Classification | |
| EE | no[3] |
| PCGB | no[4] |
| |
The Shetland is a British breed of domestic duck originating in the Shetland Islands of northern Scotland. It is critically endangered. It is not recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain or by the Entente Européenne,[5]: 457 [3] but falls under the British Waterfowl Association.[5]: 457 It is one of the sixteen native British duck breeds whose conservation status was listed as "priority" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in 2025–2026, and one of three Shetland breeds identified as of concern on that list.[6]
History
[edit]The Shetland is a traditional breed of the Shetland Islands of northern Scotland. In 2002 the total number of the ducks was estimated at 60–100 birds. No population data has been reported since then to DAD-IS, where in 2025 its conservation status was listed as "unknown".[2] Like all native British duck breeds, it was listed as "priority" on the 2025–2026 watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.[7]
Characteristics
[edit]The Shetland is a small, hardy breed; it is active and forages well.[7] It is similar in appearance to the black (undiluted) variant of the Swedish Blue, with black plumage where the Blue Swedish has blue;[5]: 457 [8]: 489 the black plumage has glossy green and blue lights in it.[7] 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.[7] 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.[7]
Use
[edit]The Shetland is a good layer; the eggs are of a good size and range in colour from white to grey.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (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: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Shetland / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Duck (domestic)). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed July 2025.
- ^ a b Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
- ^ Ducks. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Watchlist 2025–26. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 27 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Shetland. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 7 December 2024.
- ^ 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.