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page.Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
In Europe, shelduck inhabit the coasts of Ireland, England, Scandinavia, Denmark, Germany, Holland, France and the Black Sea. World distribution extends as far as central China and Afghanistan, Asian birds being encountered also inland on salt lakes: The birds winter throughout western and southern Europe and in northern Africa, and on migration occasionally occur as vagrants on inland ponds and large rivers. In southerly parts of its range, the species is resident, favourite habitats being sandy shores, mudflats or islands, often near colonies of gulls and terns. The shelduck likes to nest in burrows, but will also lay on a pile of stones or in a rock cavity. The hollow is sparingly lined, either with leaves or pieces of wood, or more often with down. Between May and June, the female lays seven to 12, but sometimes as many as 20 eggs, which she incubates by herself for 27 to 29 days. During this period, the male remains close by looking out for danger. The newly hatched ducklings are led on to the water by their mother as soon as they have dried out. Shelduck feed on marine molluscs, crustaceans, worms, aquatic insects, their larvae, also on plant food and fish spawn or tadpoles.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
Or on the Ducks: Gadwall : Goldeneye : Goosander : Mallard : Pintail : Pochard : Red Breasted Merganser : Red Crested Pochard : Shellduck : Shoveler : Teal : Tufted Duck : Wigeon
And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
Problems Caused by Certain Sea Birds
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