Australian Call

The Australian Call is the Australian show and breeding term for small call ducks maintained under local standards. It is a very small mallard-derived domestic duck kept mainly for exhibition, ornamental flocks, and experienced hobby breeding. Like other call ducks, it has a compact body, round head, short bill, and a loud voice that carries farther than its size suggests. Available colors have developed within local breeding communities, so birds may be described in mallard, white, bibbed, blue, chocolate, fawn, or other varieties depending on the source. It is a bantam duck, not a productive egg or meat breed.

Care revolves around small-bird safety and breeding quality. Calls need predator-proof pens with fine mesh, shallow entry to bathing water, and shelter from harsh weather; their size makes them vulnerable to rats, cats, raptors, and rough handling by children. The short-billed head that wins attention in the show pen can make hatching less straightforward than in larger utility ducks, so breeders often monitor incubation closely and select for vigor as well as type. Noise matters in suburban settings, especially if keeping females, and buyers should check local poultry rules before bringing a group home.