PARADISE SHELDUCK

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  740)               PARADISE SHELDUCK             Tadorna variegata 

NEW ZEALAND             12

Endemic found across all of New Zealand. 63 cm. Found in farmland, lakes, ponds, high-country riverbeds.

Photographed at Shakespeare Nature Reserve

RUDDY SHELDUCK

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1014                    RUDDY SHELDUCK                    Cadorna ferruginea

NEPAL               82

Grazes on banks of rivers and lakes, also wades, dabbles and upends in shallows. Breeds around high-altitude lakes and swamps, winters by large open lakes and rivers, especially those with sandbanks and sandy islets. 61-67 cm. Common winter visitor throughout lowlands; breeds on Himalayan lakes,; also passage migrant.

PARADISE SHELDUCK

Photographed at Lake Wollumboula, NSW December 2015

740             PARADISE SHELDUCK              Tadorna variegata

Australia          (583)

The Paradise Shelduck is endemic to New Zealand and this one seen at Lake Wollumboula (near Nowra) NSW is the first record of one appearing in Australia. They are prize game birds and were hunted in New Zealand outside the breeding season, when the birds can not fly.

RADJAH SHELDUCK

109      RADJAH SHELDUCK       Tadorna radjah

Australia    (109)

Also known as Burdekin duck, White-headed shelduck.48-60 cm, wingspan 90 cm - 1 m.  Ranges across coastal tropical n Australia from Kimberleys to Rockhampton. Found in shallow waters, swamps, mangrove lined creeks, lagoons, wetlands

Photographed in Cairns, Queensland October 2015

AUSTRALIAN SHELDUCK

59     AUSTRALIAN SHELDUCK          Tadorna tadornoides

Australia    (59)

Also known as Chestnut-breasted Shelduck or Mountain Duck. 55-74 cm, wingspan 1-1.3 m. Found in large shallow waters, irrigation areas, farmland and pastures. Ranges over sw third of WA, se Victoria and Tasmania, most of NSW and e third of SA.