# Hook Bill

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The **Hook Bill** or **Dutch Hookbill** (Dutch: *Kromsnaveleend* or *Krombekeend*),[10] is a Dutch [breed](/source/List_of_duck_breeds) of [domestic duck](/source/Domestic_duck), named for its unusual down-curved [beak](/source/Beak).[11][12] It is documented in both text and images from the late seventeenth century onwards. It originated in the [province](/source/Provinces_of_the_Netherlands) of [North Holland](/source/North_Holland), and so may also be known as the **Noord Hollandse Krombekeend**.[3] Speculation that it originated in Asia,[13] or is related to the [Indian Runner](/source/Indian_Runner_duck), is apparently unsubstantiated.[14]

## History

The Hook Bill is associated with the [province](/source/Provinces_of_the_Netherlands) of [North Holland](/source/North_Holland) in the north-west of the Netherlands, but its origins are unknown. Speculation that it originated in Asia,[13] or is related to the [Indian Runner](/source/Indian_Runner_duck), is apparently unsubstantiated.[14]

Hook-billed ducks appear in paintings by [Melchior Hondecoeter](/source/Melchior_Hondecoeter) and [Nicolas Robert](/source/Nicolas_Robert) from the latter half of the seventeenth century.[14] The earliest published illustration and description appear to be those in the *Ornithologiæ Libri Tres* of [Francis Willughby](/source/Francis_Willughby), published in 1676.[14][15] Willughby's book is in Latin; when it was re-published by [John Ray](/source/John_Ray) in English in 1678, the description of the Hook-billed Duck was:[14][16]

In shape of body and outward lineaments it is very like the common tame *Duck*; differs chiefly in the Bill, which is broad, something longer than the common *Ducks*, and bending moderately downward. The Head also is lesser and slenderer than the common *Ducks*. It is said to be a better layer.

In the nineteenth century the Hook Bill was present in large numbers in much of Europe.[17]: 444 [Johann Matthäus Bechstein](/source/Johann_Matth%C3%A4us_Bechstein), in the second volume of his *Gemeinnützige Naturgeschichte Deutschlands nach allen drey Reichen*, describes it as common throughout the continent, and particularly so in [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia), where large flocks were kept for their eggs and meat.[18][14]: 720 It was present in England no later than about 1840, when [Harrison Weir](/source/Harrison_Weir) reported seeing the birds on the lake of the [Surrey Zoological Gardens](/source/Surrey_Zoological_Gardens) in [Newington](/source/Newington,_London), at that time in [Surrey](/source/Surrey).[19][14]: 698

Numbers declined during the twentieth century – for reasons including [water pollution](/source/Water_pollution) and falling demand for duck eggs – and by 1980 the breed was close to [extinction](/source/Extinction). A recovery initiative was launched with about fifteen of the remaining birds.[5] A census in 2010 found a population of about 120;[10] in 2023 the total number was estimated at 80, with 60 breeding ducks and 20 drakes.[2]

In 2007 the [conservation status](/source/Conservation_status) of the Hook Bill was listed by the [FAO](/source/FAO) as "endangered" at European level.[1]: 141 In 2024 its status in Holland was listed in [DAD-IS](/source/DAD-IS) as "critical-maintained",[2] while the Dutch [Stichting Zeldzame Huisdierrassen](/source/Stichting_Zeldzame_Huisdierrassen) classified it as "critical",[3] as did the [Livestock Conservancy](/source/Livestock_Conservancy) in the United States.[5] It was not on the rare breed watchlist of the [Rare Breeds Survival Trust](/source/Rare_Breeds_Survival_Trust) in the United Kingdom.[20]

Some were taken to Germany in the 1980s.[21] It was introduced to the United States in 2000; it is not listed in the *[Standard of Perfection](/source/Standard_of_Perfection)* of the [American Poultry Association](/source/American_Poultry_Association).[5]

## Characteristics

The Hook Bill is a light duck, with an average weight of approximately 2 kg.[9]: 417 Three colour variants are recognised in France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom:[7] the dusky mallard has a black head and rump with green lustre, the body in shades of grey with no white neck-ring, and a slate-grey [beak](/source/Beak); the white-bibbed dusky mallard is similarly coloured, but with a distinct white chest-bib and white-tipped [wing primaries](/source/Primary_feather); the white has pure white plumage, blue eyes, bright orange legs and a flesh-pink bill.[9]: 417 A further seventeen colours are listed for Germany by the [Entente Européenne](/source/Entente_Europ%C3%A9enne), but are not accepted in the European standard.[7]

## Use

The Hook Bill was traditionally widely reared for both [eggs](/source/Duck_egg) and [meat](/source/Duck_meat); some were also kept for ornament.[10] The birds were managed extensively, foraging freely along canals and waterways.[12][10]: 69 In the twenty-first century it is bred mainly for [exhibition](/source/Poultry_show); ducks lay well, and may give between 100 and 225 white or greenish-blue eggs per year.[5]

## References

1. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources](https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf), annex to [*The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture*](https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf). Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.

1. [Breed data sheet: Noord Hollandse krombekeend / Netherlands (Kingdom of the) (Duck (domestic))](https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=NLD&specie=Duck%20(domestic)&breed=Noord%20Hollandse%20krombekeend&external=1&lang=en). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2024.

1. [Noord Hollandse krombekeend](https://web.archive.org/web/20200201141931/https://szh.nl/dieren/eend/noord-hollandse-krombekeend/) (in Dutch). Wageningen: Stichting Zeldzame Huisdierrassen. Archived 1 February 2020.

1. Carol Ekarius (2007). [*Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds*](https://archive.org/details/Storeys_Illustrated_Guide_to_Poultry_Breeds_Complete/mode/1up). North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781580176675.

1. [Dutch Hookbill Duck](https://web.archive.org/web/20190505152732/https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/dutch). The Livestock Conservancy. Archived 5 May 2019.

1. [APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012](https://web.archive.org/web/20171104135004/http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/PDF%20Forms/APA%20Recognized%20Breeds%20and%20Varieties%20Sept2012.pdf). American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.

1. [Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013)](https://web.archive.org/web/20130616062803/http://www.entente-ee.com/deutsch/sparten/gefluegel/dateien/2013/Verzeichnis%20R%20F%2028042013.xls). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.

1. [Breed Classification](https://web.archive.org/web/20170630132859/http://www.poultryclub.org/img/Breed%20Classification.pdf). Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 30 June 2017.

1. 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*](https://books.google.it/books?id=nAfyUHY42u0C). Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424.

1. [Krombekeend](https://web.archive.org/web/20161005121831/http://www.levendehave.nl/kennisbank/pluimvee/krombekeend) (in Dutch). Stichting Levende Have. Archived 5 October 2016.

1. Chris Ashton, Mike Ashton (2001). [*The Domestic Duck*](https://books.google.it/books?id=asIoCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT186). Ramsbury, Marlborough: The Crowood Press. ISBN 9781847979704.

1. Dave Holderread (2011). [*Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks*](https://books.google.it/books?id=sB6g95tyzg4C), second edition. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781603427456.

1. [Breed Gallery: Ducks](https://web.archive.org/web/20190109102833/http://www.poultryclub.org/breed-gallery/ducks/). Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 January 2019.

1. Jonathan M. Thompson (2018). [*The Hook-billed Duck: An Anthology*](https://web.archive.org/web/20200131173204/https://livestockconservancy.org/images/uploads/docs/Hook-Bill_History_Final_Draft.pdf). The Livestock Conservancy. Archived 31 January 2020.

1. Francis Willughby, John Ray, Emma Willughby (1676). [*Ornithologiæ Libri Tres*](https://archive.org/details/b3034220x/page/294/mode/1up). Londini: Impensis Joannis Martyn.

1. John Ray (1678). [*The Ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the County of Warwick, esq.*](https://archive.org/details/ornithologyFran00Will/page/381/mode/1up). [London]: A.C. for John Martin.

1. 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*](https://books.google.it/books?id=A6BtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA489&hl=en), seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 9781119509141.

1. Johann Matthäus Bechstein (1791). [*Gemeinnützige Naturgeschichte Deutschlands nach allen drey Reichen*](https://archive.org/details/gemeinnutzigena00bechgoog/page/720/mode/1up) (in German). Leipzig: Bey Siegfried Lebrecht Crusius.

1. Harrison Weir (1902). [*Our Poultry and All about Them*](https://books.google.it/books?id=gSOHyU5i6xAC&dq=HOOK-BILLED), volume 2. London: Hutchinson & Company, 1902.

1. [Ducks watchlist](https://web.archive.org/web/20190503085753/https://www.rbst.org.uk/Pages/Category/ducks-watchlist). Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 3 May 2019.

1. [Rassetafeln: Groß- und Wassergeflügel](https://web.archive.org/web/20210716050510/https://www.bdrg.de/media/docs/Rassetafeln_Gross_Wassergefluegel.pdf) (in German). Reichenbach, Haselbachtal: Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Archived 16 July 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hook Bill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_Bill) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_Bill?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.