Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common Shelduck

Subspecies in India


Old Taxonomy: Anas tadorna Linnaeus, 1758.
 

Photo Gallery and Species Biology


Breeding Season: April-May, Breeding range is extralimital (W. Europe and central Asia). 

Nest: Nest made of grass, moss in natural crevices/cavities such as hollow trees, burrows or holes on the cliffs.

Eggs: 8–10 creamy white eggs, 61–71 mm × 43–50 mm (measurement of 100 eggs).


Size: 58–67 cm

Distinguishing Characters:

Adult male: Head and neck greenish black, upper parts are largely white. A distinct broad chestnut band on breast and upper belly and a characteristic bright red upturned bill and pink legs help identify the species in field. 
Adult female: Similar to male, but dull in overall colour and smaller in size. 
Young/immature: Head and neck dull blackish, absence of broad breast band, pale coloured beak.

Similar species in India: This species can be confused with following

(1) Mallard (male): Can be distinguished by its overall small size and yellow beak.

(2) Falcated Duck (male): Can be distinguished by its smaller size and black-grey beak.

(3) Northern Shoveler (male): Can be distinguished by its smaller size, flat/spatulate black beak, blueish band on wings and pale iris.

(4) Goosander (male): Can be distinguished by its long neck, white breast and belly, comparatively long beak.
 


It an uncommon winter visitor mainly occurs in Pakistan, Punjab, Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Bangladesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Nepal. It occurs sporadically and irregularly in small parties in the northern parts of the subcontinent. Perhaps more regular on the larger open lakes and on broad rivers.

Food: Diet consist of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, and worms. Also feeds on algae, seeds, leaves and tubers of aquatic plants.

Call/Song: A clear whistle by male and a harsh short quack by female. 

Migration Status: Migratory. It is a winter migrant in northern and eastern parts of India.


IUCN Status: Least Concern

StateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNo date
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Daman & Diu
Delhi
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala
Lakshadweep
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra1
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odisha
Paschimbanga11
Pondicherry
Punjab
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Total111


1. Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Washington, DC.


2. Ali, S., and S. D. Ripley. 1968. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Together with those of Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Ceylon (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.


3. Stuart Baker, E. C. 1933. The Nidification of Birds of the Indian Empire. Taylor And Francis.


4. BirdLife International. 2019. Tadorna tadornaThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22680024A154560262. 
 

Page citation

Anonymous 2024. Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758) – Common Shelduck. In Satose, V., A. Bayani, V. Ramachandran, P. Roy, and K. Kunte (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 2.17. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.birdsofindia.org/tadorna-tadorna, accessed 2024/11/10.