The Ancona duck is a medium weight breed and makes a great general-purpose duck. They are believed to have originated in the United States. However, there are few clear records documenting its history. It is believed the breed got its name because of its similarity in color pattern as the Ancona chicken. The breed is characterized by its patchwork color pattern with random blotches of dark grey to black on a white background. No two birds are marked exactly the same. Egg color ranges from greenish/blue to white.