Australian Shelduck | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Shelduck | ||||||||||||||||
Scientific Classification | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
Tadorna tadornoides |
This is a bird which breeds in southern Australia and Tasmania. In the southern winter, many birds move further north than the breeding range. As with other shelducks, this species has favoured moulting grounds, such as Lake George, NSW, where sizable concentrations occur.
This species is mainly associated with lakes in fairly open country, breeding in tree holes, holes in banks or similar.
The male (depicted) is largely blackish, with a chestnut breast, white neck collar and dark green head. The female is similar, but has white around the eye. Both sexes, like most shelducks, show large white wing patches in flight.