[7][8][9] It has distinctive black and white markings reminiscent of the European magpie, and is a good layer of large eggs.

[8]: 430 [11] The Altrheiner Elsterenten, a duck with the same plumage pattern as the Magpie, was bred in Germany in the 1970s by Paul-Erwin Oswald.

[10] Three other colour varieties with the same pattern are recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain: blue-and-white, dun-and-white and chocolate-and-white.

[8]: 430 The American Poultry Association recognises only the blue and black colour varieties, and recommends a slightly lower body weight.

[10] Ducks lay approximately 80 eggs per year; they vary in colour from white to pale green, and weigh about 65 g.[16]: 20  The 'Paramount' strain reared by Oliver Drake in the early twentieth century reportedly laid 185 eggs per year, and reached slaughter weight in about 11 weeks.