Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758))

Scientific name: Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Common Shelduck
French name: Tadorne de Belon
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Size: Body size: 58 to 70 cm; Weight: 1100 to 1400 g; Wingspan : 110 to 113 cm.
Habitat: Sandy or muddy shallow coasts, estuaries, grassy dunes and damp inland areas like salt water steppe lakes in Asia.
Food: The Common Shelduck feeds on molluscs, gastropods and crustaceans caught by filtering water and mud with its bill. It also feeds on some plants when it moves to grassy areas.
Nesting: The nest is usually located inside an abandoned rabbit burrow or any other cavity. The female lays 8 to 10 eggs between April and June. Young birds gather in crèches where a reduced number of adults look after them.
Migration: There is a small moult migration in July with large flocks on sand beds. Northern populations move southwards in winter.
Geographic area: Europe, Asia, North Africa.

The Common Shelduck is a large duck with very contrasted colours. Females are very similar to males.
The plumage is mainly white. The upper part of the neck and the head are green.
There is a large brown collar on the chest and on the first part of the back.
The wings are white, black, green and russet.
The bill is red with a tubercle near the base on males.
The legs are pinkish.

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) - Texel, the Netherlands - March 31st 2011

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