10 November, 2009

Common Shelduck


Scientific Name: Tadorna tadorna

Population Estimate: 600K- 700K

Range / Habitat: Found throughout Europe, Asia and down to northern Africa primarily in brackish waters and mudflats. They are somewhat migratory in this range.

Field Notes: Striking, medium-sized ducks with black heads and largely white bodies broken up with a vertical brown strip near the front and a black strips horizontally down the body. Male and female are similar except for the breeding male which has the bright red bill with prominence on it.

Personal Notes: Seen in vivo in the Po River Delta near Venice, Italy. The above photo taken of a bird at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

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