Shelduck

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Shelduck, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Amber listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

Shelducks occurred on relatively few CBC plots, most of which were close to a coast or an estuary, and it is unclear how well the CBC trend represented the UK breeding population. The CBC showed a substantial increase from the mid 1960s until the early 1980s, some decrease during the 1980s, and stability during the 1990s, although the wide confidence intervals provide scope for other interpretations. Population increase was associated with expansion of range, measured as an additional 20% of occupied 10-km squares in Britain between 1968-72 and 1988-91 (Gibbons et al. 1993). The UK winter Shelduck population rose during the 1960s and 1970s, alongside the rise in breeding numbers, but then decreased from the mid 1990s, although a slight upturn has occurred in the last five years (WeBS: Frost et al. 2020). The BBS index is affected by occasional large counts, and therefore its confidence intervals are again relatively wide. BBS results show no clear population trend since 1994, but there has been further expansion of breeding population (Balmer et al. 2013). The species has increased across Europe since 1991 (PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a>).

UK winter population

-23% decrease (1995/96 to 2020/21)

Shelducks wintering around the coastline favour muddy estuaries and coastal marshes. Inland, they utilise a range of sites including valley farmland, lakes, reservoirs and pig fields. The breeding distribution map shows birds to be well distributed around the lowland coastal fringe and at scattered inland locations in northern, central and southern England.

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Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in breeding season	1194
% occupied in breeding season	40
No. occupied in winter	1184
% occupied in winter	39

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Breeding Season Habitats

Most frequent in

Estuaries

The continued colonisation of inland breeding sites since the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas is the most striking change for the Shelduck and is also consistent with the change in range that has taken place in winter; increases of 34% and 17% in range size were recorded when compared with the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas and the 1981–84 Winter Atlas respectively.

Shelducks are present throughout the year, though more often reported in winter and during spring migration.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	19 years 7 months 27 days (set in 2013)
Typical Lifespan	10 years with breeding typically at 2 year
Adult Survival	0.886   (Male: 0.909± Female: 0.88±)
Juvenile Survival	0.166 (to age 2)

Wing Length	Adults	328.5±16.5 | Range 298–348mm, N=731
	Juveniles	296.5±21.4 | Range 256-324mm, N=94
	Males	335.2±12 | Range 316–350mm, N=526
	Females	311.9±14 | Range 291–338mm, N=193

Body Weight	Adults	1.25±0.19 | Range 0.900–1.55kg, N=602
	Juveniles	1050±245.3632 | Range 730–1500g, N=83
	Males	1.31±0.15 | Range 1.05–1.56kg, N=437
	Females	1.08±0.17 | Range 0.850–1.40kg, N=153

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	G*
Field Codes	2-letter: SU | 5-letter code: SHELD | Euring: 1730

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

There is little good evidence available regarding the drivers of the breeding population change in this species in the UK.

Further information on causes of change

No further information is available.

Information about conservation actions

The recent trend for Shelduck is uncertain and hence it is unclear whether direct conservation action is currently required for this species in the UK. There is little specific research evidence relating to breeding requirements for the species, but it is likely that actions to maintain and improve availability and habitat quality in wetland habitats will benefit Shelduck. The species nests in underground holes or similar cavities (e.g. rabbit burrows) and the provision of artificial nest sites may help support nesting (BirdLife International)