Bird Guide

Common Shelduck vs Paradise Shelduck

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Large1.1 kgCoastal

The common shelduck resembles a small short-necked goose in size and shape. It is 55–65 cm long and with a wingspan of 100–120 cm, with a reddish-pink bill, pink feet, a white body with chestnut patches and a black belly, and a dark green head and neck. The wing coverts are white, the primary remiges black, and the secondaries black with a strong green iridescent reflection in good light (only showing in flight). The outer tertial feather is orange-brown, with the inner tertials white. The underwings are white, except for the flight feathers, which are black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Michael Gäbler · CC BY 3.0
Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata)

Paradise Shelduck

Tadorna variegata

Huge1.5 kgGrassland

The paradise shelduck is a colourful, large-bodied species of duck that differs in features depending on the sex. Both females and males have chestnut-colour undertails, primarily black wing feathers with green secondary wing feathers, and upper wing surface feathers that are white. They have black legs and webbed feet for swimming. Paradise shelducks are the largest of the Tadorna species, measuring 63 to 71 cm (25 to 28 in) in length and between 1.09 and 2 kg (2.4 and 4.4 lb) in weight, averaging 1.72 kg (3.8 lb) in males and 1.29 kg (2. Voice: The vocal calls differ from male to female. The male belts a di-syllabic honk like a goose when in flight or when alarmed. The male gives off a deep zonk-zonk honk, while the female is characterised by a penetrating zeek-zeek.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: craig wilson · CC BY 4.0
Photo: naturewatchwidow · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Common Shelduck and Paradise Shelduck.