PARADISE SHELDUCK
PARADISE SHELDUCK (Tadorna variegata) – (See images below)
The Paradise shelduck is endemic to New Zealand, and is widespread. This is a bird that actually increased its population since European settlement because they were prized for hunting, thus favorable environments for the birds were created. Males and females have very different plumage. In terms of size, the Paradise shelduck is between a large duck and a small goose.
NAME: The English name ‘Duck’ is from Anglo-saxon ‘duce’ and means ‘diver’. The name part ‘Shel’ is an English dialect word to mean ‘variegated’, just as in the Latin species name. The Latin genus name ‘Tadorna’ is from Italian and also means ‘variegated’.
The Paradise shelduck is endemic to New Zealand, and is widespread. This is a bird that actually increased its population since European settlement because they were prized for hunting, thus favorable environments for the birds were created. Males and females have very different plumage. In terms of size, the Paradise shelduck is between a large duck and a small goose.
NAME: The English name ‘Duck’ is from Anglo-saxon ‘duce’ and means ‘diver’. The name part ‘Shel’ is an English dialect word to mean ‘variegated’, just as in the Latin species name. The Latin genus name ‘Tadorna’ is from Italian and also means ‘variegated’.
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| Paradise shelduck, Christchurch, NZ |
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| Paradise shelduck drake, NZ |
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| Paradise shelduck foraging |
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| Paradise shelduck drake, back view, NZ |