Wildlifeof Nepal
Ruddy Shelduck
Ducks, Geese & Grebes
Photo: (c) egorbirder, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Tadorna ferruginea
Basic stats
Habitat
Inland lakes, reservoirs and rivers; nests in a crevice or hole in a cliff or tree
Range
Breeds in south-eastern Europe and central Asia; winters in the Indian subcontinent
Clutch size
About 8 eggs
Incubation period
About 4 weeks
Size
58–70cm
Wingspan
110–135cm
The ruddy shelduck is a distinctive waterfowl 58 to 70cm long with a wingspan of 110 to 135cm. The body is orange-brown with a paler head, the tail and flight feathers are black, and the wing coverts are white. It is migratory, breeding in south-eastern Europe and central Asia and wintering in the Indian subcontinent, and has a loud honking call (Wikipedia, general species account).
It mostly uses inland lakes, reservoirs and rivers, and pairs bond for long periods and nest in a crevice or hole in a cliff, tree or similar site, sometimes well away from water. About eight eggs are laid and incubated by the female alone for about four weeks. Gatherings of over four thousand birds have been recorded on the Koshi Barrage and in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Nepal.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Ruddy Shelduck live in?
- Inland lakes, reservoirs and rivers; nests in a crevice or hole in a cliff or tree
- Where is the Ruddy Shelduck found?
- Breeds in south-eastern Europe and central Asia; winters in the Indian subcontinent
- How many eggs does the Ruddy Shelduck lay?
- About 8 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Ruddy Shelduck incubated?
- About 4 weeks
- How big is the Ruddy Shelduck?
- 58–70cm
- What is the wingspan of the Ruddy Shelduck?
- 110–135cm