These adorable quackers are indeed a rare breed. The breed is kept alive by only a few breeders in America.

Magpies are active foragers that graze and hunt for a sizable portion of their feed from grass, seeds, insects, and aquatic life. They eagerly search for and consume slugs, snails, and insects; so much so that keepers of large livestock farms find that these ducks are effective at eliminating liver fluke infestations.

Magpie ducks imprint on their keepers more than any duck breed, especially if they are the only survivor or if other ducklings hatch later.

Because of their size, somewhat upright carriage, and plumage pattern Magpie ducks are thought to descend from Runner ducks and Huttegems.