Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Tadorna
Conservation status: least_concern
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.
How To Identify
They have striking plumage, characterized by deep russet-orange feathers across the body, contrasted sharply with white markings on their wings and tails.
Habitat
It typically inhabits shallow freshwater and brackish lakes, lagoons, and river systems in open steppe and semi-arid regions across temperate and subtropical Asia.
Behaviour
They are highly migratory and often form large flocks, and uniquely for ducks, they frequently rest on land and may roost on rocks or elevated perches rather than on water.
Native Range
The Ruddy Shelduck is native to southeastern Europe across the Palearctic to Lake Baikal, Mongolia, and western China.
Did You Know?
Ruddy Shelducks are remarkably vocal ducks, with pairs maintaining contact through loud, distinctive honking calls that sound almost goose-like. They often perch on rocks or branches, an unusual behavior for dabbling ducks.
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