Photo: Aiwok / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Tadorna
- Species tadorna
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Shelduck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Common Shelduck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w Europe to ne China.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 31.4 cm and a tail of around 11 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Shelduck?
The Common Shelduck is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Common Shelduck live?
The Common Shelduck is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w Europe to ne China, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Shelduck belong to?
The Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Common Shelduck eat?
The Common Shelduck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Shelduck migrate?
The Common Shelduck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Common 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 Common Shelduck make?
1 real field recording of the Common 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 Common Shelduck's range?
The Common Shelduck has a mapped global range of about 9.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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