Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Radjah Shelduck

Radjah radjah

Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Germany Birds of Indonesia Birds of Thailand Birds of the United States Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Germany Ducks, Geese & Swans of Indonesia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Thailand Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United States Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northern Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of Queensland Ducks, Geese & Swans of Victoria Ducks, Geese & Swans of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 885 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Radjah
Species radjah

Where it lives

Moluccas, New Guinea and northern Australia

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 885 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Radjah Shelduck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Radjah Shelduck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Moluccas, New Guinea and n Australia.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 885 g, with a wing length of about 27 cm and a tail of around 9.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.2 million km².

Songs & calls

Radjah Shelduck — Call

Recorded by James Lambert Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Radjah Shelduck?

The Radjah Shelduck is a large bird that weighs around 885 g.

Where does the Radjah Shelduck live?

The Radjah Shelduck is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Moluccas, New Guinea and n Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Radjah Shelduck belong to?

The Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Radjah Shelduck eat?

The Radjah Shelduck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Radjah Shelduck migrate?

The Radjah Shelduck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Radjah Shelduck endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Radjah Shelduck make?

1 real field recording of the Radjah Shelduck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Radjah Shelduck's range?

The Radjah Shelduck has a mapped global range of about 2.2 million km².