Paradise Shelduck

Tadorna variegata - Tadorne de paradis

Systematics

Order
:
Anseriformes
Family
:
Anatidés
Genus
:
Tadorna
Species
:
variegata

Descriptor

Gmelin, JF, 1789

Biometrics

Size
: 71 cm
Wingspan
: -
Weight
: 1059 à 1980 g

Longevity

23 years

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

The Paradise Shelduck is a large duck with strong sexual dimorphism that cannot be confused with any other species on the ground. The adult male is a very dark bird; the head and neck are black with greenish reflections, the body is dark gray with thin black bars. Colored notes, tertials and under tails are orange. In flight, the underside of the wings is light (white coverings and gray primaries) while the top has a strong contrast between the coverings (white) and the primaries (black). The female is more colorful, white head (black beak), orange upper and lower body and wings identical to the male's. The juveniles look very much like the male, but females have a white line from the base of the beak and extending beyond the eye.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

Tadorne de paradis,
Tarro maorí,
tadorna-maori,
Paradiesgans,
új-zélandi ásólúd,
Paradijscasarca,
Casarca del paradiso,
paradisgravand,
Maorirustand,
kazarka rajská,
husice rajská,
Paradisgravand,
paratiisisorsa,
ànec maori,
kazarka rajska,
Новозеландский огарь,
クロアカツクシガモ,
黑胸麻鸭,
黑胸麻鴨,

Voice song and call

play
pause

The male makes a deep zonk-zonk sound, whereas the female Paradise Shelduck produces a ziik-ziik noise.

Habitat

You can find the Paradise Shelduck everywhere there's still water, from small farm dams to lagoons or large storage lakes, and even along mountain streams.

Behaviour character trait

During breeding season, it is mostly found in pairs but non-breeders form small groups. Like the Eurasian Shelduck, the Paradise Shelduck forms big gatherings during moulting periods. Other than New Zealand, only one individual have been located at Chatham Islands.

Flight

Fast and powerful flight, often high.

Dietfeeding habits

The diet is predominantly omnivorous, with vegetation and small invertebrates making up the majority. The food is mostly gathered at the edge of water (fresh or salt). Paradise Shelducks move slowly, with their beaks in the water, filter-feeding.

Reproduction nesting

The breeding season extends from August to January. Breeding pairs actively defend their territory (usually a portion of the shore of a water body or a stream).

Any intruder is chased away; the owner of the place first approaches by walking, head low, neck stretched; if that is not enough, the intruder is attacked and pursued in flight. The nest can be placed in all kinds of cavities, a tunnel under a tuft of vegetation is sometimes enough, but most often it is a cavity in a tree or cliff that is used.
The laying is usually 8 to 10 eggs and the female incubates for about 5 weeks. The chicks fly at the age of about 2 months. A study showed that only 2 to 4 chicks make it to take off (a success rate of barely 45%).
Sometimes there are two clutches.

Geographic range

The Paradise Shelduck is an endemic species to New Zealand where it is widespread throughout the archipelago. It is common in the wet tablelands of the South Island.

Threats - protection

IUCN conservation status

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The population is estimated to be between 150,000 and 180,000 individuals, and is relatively stable. Main threats include introduced predators (polecats and ermines) and hunting. On the other hand, the Paradise Shelduck has benefited from the modifications colonists have made to the environment (deforestation, construction of multiple bodies of water).