Paradise Shelduck

About

New Zealand's most colorful duck with strong sexual dimorphism: males have dark greenish-black body; females are strikingly white-headed with chestnut body. Endemic and common. Found across New Zealand's grasslands, farmland, and wetlands. A significant game species traditionally harvested by Māori.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	70.2 cm	27.6 in
Weight	1569.5 g	55.36 oz

Identification

Plumage

Extreme dimorphism. Males have black head with green gloss and black-and-chestnut body. Females have pure white head and neck contrasting with rich chestnut-rufous body. Both show white wing patches. New Zealand endemic.

Habitat & Range

Open farmland, grassland, lake shores, riverbeds, and wetlands throughout both main islands of New Zealand. Nests in caves, burrows, hollow trees, and dense vegetation. Highly territorial in the breeding season.

🏖️ Coastal 🌾 Grassland 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds in Eurasia from the UK to Siberia; winters across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Diet & Feeding

Eats seeds, grasses, and aquatic invertebrates; grazes near water; dabbles in shallows; diet varies with seasonal water levels.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Incubation: 32-33 days. Fledging: 55-65 days.

Clutch Size

5-15

Sound

Song

Male gives a high-pitched whistle; female gives a loud, harsh cackling call 'rak-rak-rak'. New Zealand's only endemic shelduck; calls echoing in open farmland are distinctive.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Tadorna
Species	Tadorna variegata

Distribution

Paradise Shelduck has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Paradise Shelduck eat?

Eats seeds, grasses, and aquatic invertebrates; grazes near water; dabbles in shallows; diet varies with seasonal water levels.

Where does the Paradise Shelduck live?

Open farmland, grassland, lake shores, riverbeds, and wetlands throughout both main islands of New Zealand. Nests in caves, burrows, hollow trees, and dense vegetation. Highly territorial in the breeding season.

Is the Paradise Shelduck endangered?

The Paradise Shelduck has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Paradise Shelduck nest?

Incubation: 32-33 days. Fledging: 55-65 days.

What does the Paradise Shelduck sound like?

Male gives a high-pitched whistle; female gives a loud, harsh cackling call 'rak-rak-rak'. New Zealand's only endemic shelduck; calls echoing in open farmland are distinctive.

How big is the Paradise Shelduck?

The Paradise Shelduck has a wingspan of 70.2 cm, weight of 1569.5 g.

What order and family does the Paradise Shelduck belong to?

The Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.