2

Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) Alternate name(s): "Mountain Duck", "Chestnut-coloured Shelduck", "Chestnut-breasted Shelduck" Aboriginal name(s): "pitjangRo" [yartwatjali], "pitjan.kuR" [tjapwurrung], "piRap" [western djadjawurrung], "minyilak" [eastern djadjawurrung]; "koorak", "kooraka", "nymarak" (WA); "perna" Size: 56-73 cm Body mass: 1.5 kg (male; avg), 1.3 kg (female; avg); 0.9-2.0 kg (overall)

Australia: Family Group 2 Family Group 2 Table Magpie Goose Cape Barren Goose Black Swan Plumed Whistling-Duck Wandering Whistling-Duck Spotted Whistling-Duck Blue-billed Duck Musk Duck Hardhead Australian Wood Duck Pink-eared Duck Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Garganey Australian Shelduck Radjah Shelduck Freckled Duck Pacific Black Duck Green Pygmy-Goose Cotton Pygmy-Goose Australasian Shoveler Australasian Grebe Hoary-headed Grebe Great Crested Grebe Emperor Penguin King Penguin Adelie Penguin Chinstrap Penguin Gentoo Penguin Royal Penguin Macaroni Penguin Rockhopper Penguin Little Penguin Magellanic Penguin Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Australian Shelducks are large, mostly grey-black and chestnut-brown ducks with black heads. Below the black head and upper neck, they have a white neck band, below which males are rufous, while females are chestnut-coloured. The belly, mantle, rump and tail are grey-black. When the wings are folded up, one can often see some residual white and chestnut colours of the colourful wing plumage, sometimes also some green of the speculum. In-flight, Australian Shelducks display unusual large, square-shaped white panels on both upperwings and underwings. Female Australian Shelducks have white patches at the base of the bill and white eye-rings, both of which are black in males. The amount of white at the base of the bill and the width of the white eye-ring both vary. Both sexes have black irises, a dark-grey bill, and equally dark-grey legs and webbed feet.

Taxonomy, classification See Australian Shelduck at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Australian Shelduck is available HERE . Australian Shelducks are endemic to Australia. They are primarily found in the southern half of the Australian continent. There are two major populations, one in the south-west (WA) and the other in the south-east of the continent. During the breeding season both populations stay in the southern parts of their ranges, during the non-breeding season they venture farther north. The range of the south-western Australian population has an almost rectangular shape, delimited by the western and southern coastline of WA, the Gascoyne River in the north and a line running roughly north-south near the longitude of Kalgoorlie, WA. Along the south coast they are found a few hundred km further to the east. In the north they occasionally venture beyond the Gascoyne along the coastline, up to about Broome, WA. The south-eastern population spends the breeding season in the Murray River catchment, all of VIC (extending westward to about Adelaide, SA, Eyre peninsula and Kangaroo Island), and the eastern half of Tasmania. The rest of the year they also populate the entire eastern half of SA. Occasionally they will spread as far as all of NSW, to about the border with QLD, and into far western QLD, up to about Mt. Isa. Australian Shelducks are found in a variety of habitats, mostly close to fresh and brackish water, even saltmarshes. They can be found around dams and pastures, but also in open woodland and forest margins.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Australian Shelducks were spotted by S. Kirkby near Albany, WA, in July 2011. R. Plumtree reports spotting Australian Shelducks at Ensay North & South, East Gippsland, VIC, in July 2014 and at Hollands Landing, Lake Victoria, East Gippsland, VIC, in October 2014. Australian Shelducks were also spotted while breeding at Lake Newlands, near Apsley, VIC, in October 2016, and at Macleod Morass Game Reserve, Bairnsdale, East Gippsland, VIC, in October 2019. J. Greaves reports spotting Australian Shelducks at Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, in January 2015, and in Manjimup, WA, in March 2015. We first spotted a small flock of Australian Shelducks at Macquarie Marshes NR, NSW, in April 2017. At the same location, V. Collinsand ourselves found a a total of 18 Australian Shelducks in May 2021. B. Hensen reports spotting Australian Shelducks at Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, in December 2017. M. Eaton reports finding Australian Shelducks at Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, in April 2019. C. Pears reports spotting Australian Shelducks on Rottnest Island, WA, in April 2018, and in Quindalup, WA, in October 2021. Others, usually also in pairs, are found semi-regularly at various locations in Perth, WA, such as Lake Herdsman and Lake Monger. D. Dyer found a pair of Australian Shelducks on a beach at Cervantes, WA, in April 2021. M. Eaton reports spotting Australian Shelducks at Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, in April 2021. Others were found in various locations in Tasmania, e.g. Bicheno, in September 2024. In August 2024, K. Burke spotted a family of Australian Shelducks with 7 ducklings at Manning Park, Spearwood, near Perth, WA.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Note the female Australian Shelduck's white eye-ring and white margin around the base of the bill, right, that the male does not have.

Frontal view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; male on the right, female on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; male on the right, female on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; for comparison 2 Chestnut Teals behind (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Pair of Australian Shelducks, female on the right, male on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks, With a clear view of the fine vermiculation on the grey wing coverts (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, March 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2022]

Lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; male on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, December 2017]

Lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; in the foreground a pair of Pacific Black Ducks
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; in the foreground a Pacific Black Duck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Pair of Australian Shelducks; the male is seen on the right, the female on the left (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2014]

Dorsal view of a pair of Australian Shelducks; male at the back, female in front (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Several pairs of Australian Shelduck resting by the shore of a lake (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a pair of Australian Shelducks in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Hollands Landing, near Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, VIC, October 2014]

MALE

Frontal view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Frontal view of a male Australian Shelduck feeding on aquatic plants (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2024]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, March 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a (moulting?) wet male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2024]

Lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a posturing male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2024]

Lateral view of a male Australian Shelduck in comparison with an Australasian Darter (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a male Australian Shelduck looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2025]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a preening male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a male Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a male Australian Shelduck looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Australian Shelduck looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, June 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, March 2026]

Lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2024]

Lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bicheno, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2022]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a female Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, December 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a female Australian Shelduck in flight, showing its upperwing pattern (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Australian Shelduck; note the grey fringe around the base of the bill (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a resting juvenile (male?) Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Australian Shelduck (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Lateral/near-dorsal view of 2 juvenile Australian Shelducks (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Family of Australian Shelducks with 9 ducklings; dad leads the way, literally leaving everyone in his wake
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2021]

Female Australian Shelduck with 9 ducklings (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2021]

Female Australian Shelduck with 7 ducklings (photo courtesy of K. Burke)
[Manning Park, Spearwood, near Perth, WA, August 2024]

Australian Shelduck ducklings (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Newlands, near Apsley, VIC, October 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/small flock

The species being dimorphic, it is easy to tell that they often come in pairs.

Like many other waterbirds, Australian Shelducks spend much time resting on or near water (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Rottnest Island, WA, April 2018]

Australian Shelducks resting in shallow water together with other ducks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Australian Shelducks on shallow water in a partially submerged cattle paddock
[Macquarie Marshes NR, NSW, April 2017]

Pair of Australian Shelducks on a beach (photo courtesy of D. Dyer)
[Cervantes, WA, April 2021]

Australian Shelducks can congregate in substantial numbers (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Food, Diet

Australian Shelducks are omnivorous.

Australian Shelduck upending to reach a plant under water (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2023]

Close-up frontal view of a juvenile Australian Shelduck with a piece of an aquatic plant in its bill (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Family of Australian Shelducks feeding on aquatic plants (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Australian Shelducks feeding on pasture, together with Australian White Ibises (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Near Albany, WA, July 2011]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

ausshel_cp_20260723.m4a

(SW WA)

Pair Q&A (courting) (+ Brown Honeyeater)

© CP

More Australian Shelduck sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.