About the Ruddy Shelduck
The ruddy shelduck is a bird species in the family Anatidae. It is a distinctive waterfowl, 58 to 70 cm in length with a wingspan of 110 to 135 cm. It has orange-brown body plumage with a paler head, while the tail and the flight feathers in the wings are black, contrasting with the white wing-coverts. It is a migratory bird, wintering in the Indian subcontinent and breeding in southeastern Europe and central Asia, though there are small resident populations in North Africa. It has a loud honking call.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Ruddy Shelduck sounds like
Where the Ruddy Shelduck lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, Finland, South Africa, Luxembourg, Afghanistan, Brazil, Qatar, Vietnam.
When to see the Ruddy Shelduck
Peak activity in February · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoidesThe males are mostly dark, with a chestnut breast.
Paradise ShelduckTadorna variegataThe paradise shelduck is a colourful, large-bodied species of duck that differs in features depending on the sex.
South African ShelduckTadorna canaAdult South African shelducks have ruddy bodies and wings strikingly marked with black, white and green.
Side by side: Common Shelduck vs Ruddy Shelduck · Australian Shelduck vs Ruddy Shelduck · Paradise Shelduck vs Ruddy Shelduck
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