Paradise Shelduck
Tadorna variegata
Silhouette: Rebecca Groom · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusTadorna (Typical Shelducks)
- SpeciesTadorna variegata (Paradise Shelduck)
About the Paradise Shelduck
The paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata), also known as the paradise duck, or pūtangitangi in Māori, is a species of shelduck, a group of goose-like ducks, which is endemic to New Zealand. Johann Friedrich Gmelin placed it in the genus Anas with the ducks, geese, and swans. Both the male and female have striking plumages: the male has a black head and barred black body and the female has a white head with a chestnut body. They weigh between 1.09 and 2 kg (2.4 and 4.4 lb) and are between 63 and 71 cm (25 and 28 in) in length.
Paradise shelducks mate for life and usually live as pairs, and moult their feathers from December to February. They are primarily herbivorous, and mostly graze on pasture grasses and clover, but have been observed eating a wide range of invertebrates. They are seasonally hunted as a game bird throughout New Zealand, and today the IUCN Red List classifies them as a species of least concern.
The paradise shelduck was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other ducks, swans, and geese in the genus Anas and coined... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Fiordland National Park
Australian Shelduck
Tadorna tadornoides
New Zealand Scaup
Aythya novaeseelandiae
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa
Grey Teal
Anas gracilis
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Australasian Shoveler
Spatula rhynchotis
Blue Duck
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Brown Teal
Anas chlorotis
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 7 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Paradise Shelduck sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 1,742 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park in our monthly data.