Bird Guide

Paradise Shelduck vs Ruddy Shelduck

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

Sonogram of the Paradise Shelduck
Recorded by craig wilson · Call · North West Bay, Marlborough District, Marlborough Region, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0
Photo: naturewatchwidow · CC BY 4.0
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

Large1.2 kgWetland

The ruddy shelduck grows to a length of 58 to 70 cm (23 to 28 in) and has a 110–135 cm (43–53 in) wingspan. The male has orange-brown body plumage and a paler, orange-brown head and neck, separated from the body by a narrow black collar. The rump, flight feathers, tail-coverts and tail feathers are black and there are iridescent green speculum feathers on the inner surfaces of the wings. Both upper and lower wing-coverts are white, this feature being particularly noticeable in flight but hardly visible when the bird is at rest. The bill is black and the legs are dark grey.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Ruddy Shelduck
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Call · Pontorson, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0
Photo: Michael Gäbler · CC BY 3.0

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