South African Shelduck

Tadorna cana

The South African Shelduck or Cape Shelduck, ''Tadorna cana'', is a species of shelduck, a group of large goose-like birds which are part of the bird family Anatidae, which also includes the swans, geese and ducks.
South African Shelduck - Tadorna cana Geotagged,Namibia,Shelduck,South African Shelduck,Tadorna cana,Tadorninae,africa,duck,namibia

Appearance

Adult South African Shelduck have ruddy bodies and wings strikingly marked with black, white and green. The male has a grey head, and the female has a white face and black crown, nape and neck sides.
South African Shelduck two juveniles two juveniles Geotagged,Namibia,South African Shelduck,Summer,Tadorna cana

Naming

The genus name ''Tadorna'' comes from Celtic roots and means "pied waterfowl", essentially the same as the English "shelduck".

Distribution

This is a 64 cm long bird which breeds in southern Africa, mainly in Namibia and South Africa. In the southern winter, many birds move north-east from the breeding range to favoured moulting grounds, where sizable concentrations occur.

Habitat

This species is mainly associated with lakes and rivers in fairly open country, breeding in disused mammal holes, usually those of the Aardvark.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
GenusTadorna
SpeciesT. cana
Photographed in
Namibia