Poultry
Call Duck
D tier
Call ducks are miniature, loud, and historically used as live decoys; they are ornamental more than meat animals. When processed, the carcass is tiny—few mouthfuls of fine, slightly rich meat—better as a novelty roast for one or for stock than as a serious dinner centrepiece. Treat like a small game bird: high heat, short time, protect from drying. Most culinary interest stays with their eggs (small and rich) rather than meat yield. Ethical and legal norms around decoy use are historical; modern birds are pets and show stock first.
Also known as: Call Duck, Decoy / call-type duck
Track this ingredient
Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Small decoy ducks were used in Dutch trapping traditions.
Call ducks entered British fancier circles as miniatures.
American breeders developed call duck colour varieties for show.
Calls remained popular ornamentals with minimal commercial meat role.