Common Shelduck

À propos

A large distinctive shelduck with a white body, dark green head, broad chestnut breast band, and a bright red bill with a knob in males. Common along European and Asian coasts and estuaries. Nests in rabbit burrows or hollow trees. Large moult migrations concentrate in Germany's Wadden Sea.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	62,8 cm	24.7 in
Poids	1035,5 g	36.53 oz

Identification

Plumage

White body with dark green head, broad chestnut breastband, and black scapular stripes. Red bill with basal knob in males. Green speculum and black wingtips. Underparts white with black belly stripe. Sexes similar.

Habitat & Range

Coastal estuaries, mudflats, saltmarshes, sand dunes, and inland saline lakes from northwest Europe east across Eurasia to China. Winters mainly on tidal estuaries and coastal wetlands. Nests in burrows.

🌿 Wetland 🏖️ Coastal

Répartition géographique

Breeds in Siberian tundra; winters in eastern and southern Africa, and in South and Southeast Asia. Trans-hemispheric migrant.

Diet & Feeding

Eats seeds, leaves, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in shallow water; diet broadly omnivorous and varies with habitat.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: BU. Incubation: 28-31 days. Fledging: 45-50 days.

Taille de la couvée

3-18

Son

Chant

Male gives a whistled 'wheee'; female gives a cackling series of rapid nasal 'ak-ak-ak' notes. One of the most sexually dimorphic calls of any shelduck species.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Famille	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Tadorna
Espèces	Tadorna tadorna

Distribution

Common Shelduck has been recorded in 5 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Common Shelduck eat?

Eats seeds, leaves, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in shallow water; diet broadly omnivorous and varies with habitat.

Where does the Common Shelduck live?

Coastal estuaries, mudflats, saltmarshes, sand dunes, and inland saline lakes from northwest Europe east across Eurasia to China. Winters mainly on tidal estuaries and coastal wetlands. Nests in burrows.

Is the Common Shelduck endangered?

The Common Shelduck has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Common Shelduck nest?

Nest type: BU. Incubation: 28-31 days. Fledging: 45-50 days.

What does the Common Shelduck sound like?

Male gives a whistled 'wheee'; female gives a cackling series of rapid nasal 'ak-ak-ak' notes. One of the most sexually dimorphic calls of any shelduck species.

How big is the Common Shelduck?

The Common Shelduck has a wingspan of 62.8 cm, weight of 1035.5 g.

What order and family does the Common Shelduck belong to?

The Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.