Gallery - Ducks-Shelducks and others

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

The Shelduck has been classified as a Amber list species-medium conservation concern.

This mainly a coastal species, most live on esturies or muddy shores where they filter molluscs,crustaceans and other invertebrates from the mud.Nests in enclosed sites such as rabbit burrows.

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Escapee or part of the feral population?? From southern Spain, North Africa and Middle East

Mandarin (Aix galericulata)

A spectacular duck introduced from the far east and now breeding in many locations in Britain where there are lakes, mature trees, a supply of insect food in summer and nuts in the autumn.

Wood Duck or Carolina Duck (Aix sponsa)

Escapee or visitor from North America.

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Blown in from North America

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Escapee from collections in the 1960`s and a wild population now lives in Britian.Dives to feed on insects and water plants.

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)

The Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata, is a large duck which is native to Mexico, Central and South America. There also are feral breeding populations in North America in and around public parks in nearly every state of the USA and in the Canadian provinces; feral populations also exist in Europe. Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird, it adapts to icy and snowy conditions down to –12°C (10°F) and below without ill effects.

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)

Introduced to Eastern England from Africa, these geese now breed wild in parkland and near some lowland lakes. Feeds mainly on leaves, grasses and seeds.

© Simon Thurgood 2024
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