Photo: Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Paradise Shelduck

Tadorna variegata

Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the Netherlands Birds of New Zealand Birds of the United States Birds of New South Wales Birds of England Birds of Isle of Wight Birds of Lancashire Birds of Surrey

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of the Netherlands Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Zealand Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United States Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. 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 Tadorna
Species variegata

Where it lives

North, South, Stewart and satellites (New Zealand)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 1.5 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Paradise Shelduck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

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

The Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU North, South, Stewart and satellites (New Zealand).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 35.1 cm and a tail of around 13.1 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 269,000 km².

Songs & calls

Paradise Shelduck — Call

Recorded by Guido O. Keijl Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Paradise Shelduck?

The Paradise Shelduck is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.

Where does the Paradise Shelduck live?

The Paradise Shelduck is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU North, South, Stewart and satellites (New Zealand), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Paradise Shelduck belong to?

The Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Paradise Shelduck eat?

The Paradise Shelduck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Paradise Shelduck migrate?

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

Is the Paradise 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 Paradise Shelduck make?

1 real field recording of the Paradise 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 Paradise Shelduck's range?

The Paradise Shelduck has a mapped global range of about 269,000 km².