Common shelduck

The common shelduck is a waterfowl species in the shelduck genus Tadorna, in the family Anatidae, formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 and monotypic, with no recognized subspecies. It resembles a small goose, measuring 55 to 65 centimeters in length with a 100 to 120 centimeter wingspan, and shows a white body with chestnut patches, a black belly, a dark green head and neck, and a reddish pink bill and pink feet; breeding males have crisper coloring and a knob at the base of the bill, while females are slightly smaller. The species is widespread and common across the Palearctic, in Europe and northwest Africa, breeding mainly on temperate coasts, saline pools and estuaries, and since the mid twentieth century it has expanded significantly into freshwater wetlands beyond its traditional coastal range. Asian populations migrate seasonally while European birds are largely resident. The IUCN lists the common shelduck as Least Concern.