Ruddy Shelduck

The ruddy shelduck is a distinctive waterfowl, 58–70cm long with a wingspan of 110–135cm. The body is orange-brown and the head and neck paler, and the male has a narrow black collar. The rump, flight feathers and tail are black, with an iridescent green speculum, and the white wing coverts flash in flight though they are barely visible at rest. It has a loud honking call. It breeds in south-eastern Europe and Central Asia and winters in the Indian subcontinent, with small resident populations in North Africa (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is largely nocturnal and omnivorous, grazing on grasses, young shoots and grain on land and taking water plants and invertebrates in water. It mostly uses inland lakes, reservoirs and rivers. Pairs form lasting bonds and nest in a crevice or hole in a cliff, tree or similar site, sometimes far from water; the female incubates about eight eggs for about four weeks, and both parents raise the young. In India it is mainly a winter migrant, with localized summer populations. SoIB 2023 estimates a long-term decline of about 50% and rates it a High conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).