The Pekin Duck is the duck most people think of when they imagine what a domestic duck looks like. For this reason they are often called simply, the Domestic Duck, by many people. The most famous Pekin Duck is of course, Donald Duck.

The Pekin Duck is quite hardy, which is one of the reasons it is so popular. Unlike some other ducks, the Pekin has a very even temperament making it a good pet. These ducks are very versatile and are often seen in ponds and as backyard ducks. The average lifepsan of the Pekin Duck is between 9 and 12 years on average.

The Pekin Duck embodies what the classic white duck should look like. The average mature Pekin Ducks weighs between 8 and 9 pounds, though larger show varieties have been developed. Their plumage is white and they have orange bills, legs and feet. Some may have more yellowish bills, but black bills are considered a serious fault in the show ring. The Pekin Duck is a fast growing duck. Baby Pekin Ducks are easy to distinguish from adults because they have bright yellow plumage. Pekin Ducklings are commonly seen around Easter. Because the Pekin Duck is also shown as an ornamental duck several different varieties have been developed for show, among these are the Jumbo Pekin Duck and the Crested Pekin Duck.

Pekin Ducks were imported from China into Europe and North America in the 1800s and were first seen in shows in 1878. This breed was originally bred from the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and even today they are often referred to by the same taxonomy, though most places now refer to the Pekin Duck as Anas domesticus. The Pekin Duck is often seen in shows and has been used historically as a meat duck. Today they are the most popular meat duck and are also the most popular farm duck. They are also popular in shows and as pets.

Like all ducks, the Pekin Duck should be fed a varied diet. Feed can include insects, grasses and plants.

The Pekin Duck is an excellent egg layer that will often lay up to 200 eggs a season, but females are known to be bad mothers. Pekin Ducks are not known to be good brooders, so eggs may need to be incubated. To achieve the best results for breeding they should be kept in groups of two to three.