



Tadorna tadorna
The Common Shelduck is a beautiful bird with a striking mix of colors. They are often seen near water, where they love to swim and dive for food.
Habitat: Wetlands
The Common Shelduck is a large, striking duck with a dark green head, a bright white body, and a broad chestnut-brown band across its chest. It has vibrant pink legs and a distinctive bright red bill with a prominent knob, especially noticeable on males.




Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Female shelducks can lay their eggs deep inside abandoned rabbit warrens for protection.
Hundreds of ducklings often swim together in giant 'nurseries' watched over by just a few adults!
Their unique red bill has a funny-looking knob that grows bigger on males during breeding season.
They gather in huge groups, sometimes thousands, to safely molt their old flight feathers!
Common Shelducks can nest deep inside old rabbit burrows, which helps protect their eggs and ducklings from predators.
Common Shelducks have a specialized bill that allows them to filter tiny snails and seeds from the muddy shores they feed on.
Common Shelducks form 'crèches' where many adult birds collectively guard a large group of ducklings, protecting them from dangers.
They filter tiny creatures and plant material from mud and water with their specialized bill.
Hydrobia ulvae
A primary food source in intertidal mudflats.

Vulpes vulpes
Foxes are common predators of eggs, ducklings, and adults.

Oryctolagus cuniculus
Shelducks often use abandoned rabbit burrows for nesting.
Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them.
Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.
55-70 cm
110-145 cm
0.8-1.5 kg
10-15 years
80 km/h
They filter tiny creatures and plant material from mud and water with their specialized bill.
Wetlands
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Municipal District of Cobh, IE
You might spot Ring-Tailed Lemur, Giraffes, and Cheetahs.
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Niedersachsen, DE
You might spot Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Redshank, and Pied Avocet.
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Aragón, ES
You might spot Common Shelduck and Black-Winged Stilt.
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Castilla-La Mancha, ES
You might spot Black-Winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, and Northern Shoveler.
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Región de Murcia, ES
You might spot Aleppo Pine, Mediterranean Fan Palm, and Mastic.
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Schleswig-Holstein, DE
You might spot Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Oystercatcher.
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