Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata)
Taxonomy
French: Tadorne de paradis German: Paradieskasarka Spanish: Tarro maorí
Taxonomy:
Anas variegata
J. F. Gmelin
, 1789,Dusky Bay, New Zealand
.Distribution:
North I, South I and Stewart I, New Zealand.
Descriptive notes
63–71 cm; male 1420–1980 g, female 1059–1700 g. Upperwing characteristic in flight with white on coverts, dark primaries and iridescent green secondaries as... read more
Voice
Various vocalizations have been described: male most commonly gives goose-like honking, which tends... read more
Habitat
Occupies a diversity of habitats, from coasts and estuaries to mountain streams, river flats,... read more
Food and feeding
Highly adaptable to both animal and vegetarian diet, but considered to be primarily herbivorous; greener parts of grasses, herbs and sedges... read more
Breeding
Starts in late Jul/early Aug, sometimes later until Oct (especially among first-time breeders), although birds begin to reassemble on their... read more
Movements
Mainly sedentary, with only small-scale movements reported and some evidence that males are prone... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally widespread, with scattered populations; overall population of c. 120,000 birds in 1981, but had increased to c. 300,000 in... read more
Sometimes placed in genus Casarca together with T. ferruginea, T. cana and T. tadornoides. One phylogenetic analysis found present species and T. tadornoides to form a clade, with T. cristata as a sister#R. Hybridization with other Tadorna species reported in captivity. Monotypic.