Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas, 1764) UD RUDSH 1710
Family: Anseriformes > Anatidae

Ruddy Shelduck, Amy Lewis

In some Buddhist countries the Ruddy Shelduck is protected because its colour is said to resemble that of a monk's robes. During migration, Ruddy Shelduck have been recorded flying at heights of up to 6,800 m.

Most records are undoubtedly of escapees from collections, and the situation is complicated by the growth of feral populations in Germany that migrate to The Netherlands to moult; wild individuals from their breeding grounds in SE Europe and central Asia may have occurred, the challenge is in proving it

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Ruddy Shelduck

  • Breeding
  • Winter

Identification

Ruddy Shelduck identification is often straightforward.

SONGS AND CALLS

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

Call

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

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

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

DISTRIBUTION

There are historical records that may relate to genuine vagrants from breeding grounds in southeast Europe, north Africa and Central Asia, but it is thought that most birds recorded nowadays are escapes from wildfowl collections. Winter records mainly in southern and central England. There is a small feral breeding population the southern half of Britain.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

SEASONALITY

Sporadic records of Ruddy Shelducks throughout the year are likely to be escaped and naturalised individuals possibly supplemented by immigrants from naturalised and wild populations on the continent.

Weekly occurence of Ruddy Shelduck from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Ruddy Shelduck, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

BIOMETRICS

Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

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

Welsh: Hwyaden Goch yr Eithin
Catalan: ànec canyella
Czech: husice rezavá
Danish: Rustand
Dutch: Casarca
Estonian: tulipart
Finnish: ruostesorsa
French: Tadorne casarca
German: Rostgans
Hungarian: vörös ásólúd
Icelandic: Ryðönd
Irish: Seil-lacha Rua
Italian: Casarca
Latvian: ruda dižpile
Lithuanian: rudoji urvine antis
Norwegian: Rustand
Polish: kazarka rdzawa
Portuguese: pato-casarca
Slovak: kazarka hrdzavá
Slovenian: rjasta kozarka
Spanish: Tarro canelo
Swedish: rostand

Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com

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