Page 102 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Tadorna tadorna
Shelduck red knob on brown-
black cap
forehead
bold black black head
wingtips white pink or
underside grey bill
bright grey legs
MALE red bill IMMATURE
white
body
paler patch no knob
on cheek on bill
IN FLIGHT

broad orange
band around FEMALE
chest tawny orange
pink legs band around
foreparts

MALE
ostly but not exclusively coastal, the Shelduck is widespread
Mand easily identified. Family groups gather together in late
summer when most adults fly to the Helgoland Bight (Germany) to FLIGHT: strong, fast-flying, but rather heavy,
moult;at other times,pairs or small,loose flocks are usual.The bright goose-like action.
white plumage is easily visible at great range across UPENDING
dark estuary mud.With the ever-increasing number of Shelducks often upend to feed on
gravel workings in lowland areas, Shelducks have been submerged plants and animals.
able to spread inland to take advantage of newly
flooded, worked-out pits.
VOICE Goose-like a-ank and growled grah grah;
various whistling notes from male and rhythmic
gagagagaga from female in spring.
NESTING In holes on ground, between straw bales, in
old buildings, under brambles, and also in trees;
8–10 eggs; 1 brood; February–August.
FEEDING Typically sweeps bill from side to side over
wet mud to find algae, snails, and small crustaceans; also
grazes and upends in shallow water.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Widespread as breeding and
wintering bird on coasts but
MALLARD 3 yellow only locally in Mediterranean.
similar to 32; bill
see p.101 dark Mostly found on sandy or muddy
greyer green shores, especially sheltered
body head estuaries, with some on
freshwater lakes, reservoirs, or
flooded pits well inland.
GRAZING DUCKS
Seen in the UK
Pairs of Shelducks may sometimes be found feeding around the shores of
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
lakes and reservoirs.
Length 58–65cm (23–26in) Wingspan 1.1–1.33m (3 1 ⁄2 –4 1 ⁄4ft) Weight 0.85–1.4kg (1 3 ⁄4 –3lb)
Social Flocks Lifespan 5–15 years Status Secure
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