British Waterfowl Association

Campbell

Khaki Campbell ducks on grass
Khaki Campbell quartet — Simon James

Three colours of Campbell are recognised:

  • Dark
  • Khaki
  • White
Dark Campbell duck on a blue photographer's background
Simon James's Dark Campbell duck

Light duck breed

Domesticated Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

One of the first, certainly the most successful, of the utility breeds designed in the 20th century. The breed was created by Mrs Adele Campbell using a Rouen drake, a Fawn & White Runner duck, plus a little Mallard blood.

The Khaki Campbell largely took over as the top egg laying duck and the name is well-known today. The Khaki Campbell proved to be very agile, very fertile and extremely prolific. It has spawned many variants: the White Campbell, the Dark Campbell, the Welsh Harlequin (a simple mutation from the original Khaki), the Abacot Ranger (a cross back to a Runner) and the Whaylesbury hybrid (Welsh Harlequin and Aylesbury).

Although there is a strict standard for exhibition birds, many generic brown ducks are mis-sold as Khaki Campbells. The two marked colours of Campbell (Khaki and Dark) are dusky mallard; Khakis also have a brown dilution. Dusky Mallard, Khaki and White are also standardised for Calls, which share the same colour genotype; just being a different shape. Campbells have no eyestripes, and their speculum is never brightly coloured.

White Campbells — Sue Chase
faces of Khaki and dark Campbells
Head shots of Khaki, and Dark Campbell ducks — Clare Lovegrove

The Campbell is the top egg-laying duck with some utility strains laying over 300 eggs a year. It is an active light breed with drakes weighing 2.3-2.5kg (5-5.5lb) and ducks 2.0-2.3kg (4.5-5lb).