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Common ShelduckAlternate name(s): "Shelduck" ![]() Size: 55-65 cm (male larger than female); wing span 1.0-1.2 m Weight: 850-1500 g (male), 560-1250 (female) |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Lateral view of a male Common Shelduck; note the prominent
frontal shield
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Portugal, January 2023]
Lateral view of a male Common Shelduck
feeding in shallow water
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, May 2019]
Dorsal view of a (young?) male Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Dorsal view of a male Common Shelduck
with a White
Wagtail for comparison (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, April 2016]
Comparison of a Common Shelduck with
Common Redshanks in
breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Harlesiel and Schilling, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]
Near-frontal view of a male Common Shelduck in flight,
wings up
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2019]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Common Shelduck in flight,
wings down
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2019]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas da Fuzeta, Olhao, Faro, Portugal, November 2021]
Lateral view of a female Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Sarilhos Grandes, Montijo, Setubal, Portugal, March 2020]
Lateral view of a female Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, May 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Shelduck, together with a
Common Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a female Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Shelduck in flight, wings up
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Shelduck in flight, wings down
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
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PAIR |
Near-lateral and dorsal view of two Common Shelducks; the
absence of a knob on the bird on the right identifies
it as a female (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, January 2016]
Lateral view of a pair of Common Shelducks; male on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Sarilhos Grandes, Montijo, Setubal, Portugal, March 2020]
Lateral view of a pair of Common Shelducks; male on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Sarilhos Grandes, Montijo, Setubal, Portugal, March 2020]
Dorsal view of a pair of Common Shelducks
feeding in shallow water; the most massive bird, on the right,
is the male
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, May 2019]
Resting Common Shelducks, male at the centre
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Common Shelducks with a number of other ducks
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Harlesiel and Schilling, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Common Shelducks in flight,
male on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Sex unknown |
Lateral view of a resting Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Distant lateral view of an immature(?) Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]
Lateral view of a juvenile Common Shelduck
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, July 2021]
Female Common Shelduck with a clutch of ducklings
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]
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Food, Diet |
Common Shelducks feeding in shallow water
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas da Fuzeta, Olhao, Faro, Portugal, November 2021]