Australian shelduck
Scientific name: Tadorna tadornoides
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Large duck with striking sexual dimorphism. Males display chestnut body, dark green head, and white neck ring; females are drab grey-brown with lighter facial markings. Both sexes show pale wing patches in flight.
Size and weight
Males 60–65 cm, 1.2–1.5 kg; females 55–60 cm, 1.0–1.3 kg.
Habitat
Inhabits freshwater and brackish wetlands, lakes, and river systems with open water and grassy margins. Prefers areas with good visibility and minimal dense vegetation.
Distribution
Endemic to Australia, widespread across eastern and southern regions from coastal areas to inland waterways. Prefers temperate and subtropical zones with reliable water sources.
Diet
Grazes on pasture grasses and aquatic vegetation; dabbles for seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; occasional grain feeding in agricultural areas.
Behaviour
Highly mobile and nomadic, responding to water availability and food sources. Diurnal and crepuscular foragers, often in pairs or small flocks; strong fliers covering considerable distances between feeding and roosting sites.
Hunting tips
Scout open water margins at dawn and dusk for feeding birds. Look for mud-line tracks and droppings along shorelines and shallow banks. Approach from downwind using landscape contours; birds are alert and flush readily, so still-hunting near water margins or hidden blinds near evening flight-lines is most effective.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.