BIRD FAMILY
Geese and Ducks

South African Shelduck
Tadorna cana

A: Kopereend
Ss: Letata la hlohoputswa
Z: idadelibomvu

SIZE
64 cm (L)

HABITAT
Pairs or flocks frequent brackish pans, dams and lakes, and large deep waters (especially when in wing-moult). Dives if pursued. May also be seen away from water when breeding. Mostly restricted to drier southern and western areas; rarely recorded in the moister northeast. Nomadic when not breeding.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Common endemic resident. A long-bodied duck with horizontal stance. Male told by solid grey head. Female shows highly variable amount of white on the face; differs from White-faced Whistling Duck in grey (not black) head and neck. In flight similar to Egyptian Goose, but both sexes differ in richer rufous body and grey head; female distinguished by white face. Immature is duller than adult. Female initially has white circles around eyes, which extend over the face with maturity. Male utters a deep ‘hoogh’, ‘how’ or ‘honk’, the female alternating with a harsher ‘hark’. Females hiss while accompanying immatures. Courting pairs are noisy and aggressive.