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Common Shelduck - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by redwing
Tadorna tadorna

Identification

Juvenile
Photo © by Leo Tukker
Inlaag Keihoogte, Wissenkerke, Netherlands, September 2015
  • White body
  • Chestnut breast band
  • Green neck and head (looks black)
  • Black scapulars, flight feathers and stripe from breast band to vent
  • Reddish-yellow undertail coverts
  • White tail with black tip
  • Red bill with fleshy knob (larger in spring Male)

Distribution

Palearctic region; winters to Near East, India and Myanmar.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Wintering group in North India
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Nazafgarh Wetland and Marshes, Delhi-Gurgaon Border, India, February-2018

Habitat

Estuaries, lakes, rivers and salt marshes.

Behaviour

Photo © by ody
Axios Delta, Greece December 2008

Breeding

They nest in burrows, holes, caves and cliffs. The nest is lined with down for the 8-12 white eggs. Both sexes incubate and care for the young.

Diet

The diet includes invertebrates.

Vocalistion

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
  3. BWPI
  4. Wikipedia
  5. bio.edu.ee

Recommended Citation

External Links


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