From Opus

Alternative name: Burdekin Duck

Tadorna radjah

Photo by RMD
Location: Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia

Photo by kctsang
Location: Singapore

[edit] Identification

Both the male and female are mostly white, with dark wingtips and a distinctive "collar" of dark feathers. These birds have green bands on the tops of their wings. The female has a harsh rattle and the male has a whistle.

The Radjah Shelduck is listed as a protected bird in all states of Australia

[edit] Distribution

New Guinea and Australia

[edit] Taxonomy

This bird is placed in the genus Tadorna, it differs markedly in external morphology, and mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Sraml et al. 1996) suggests its status should be reinvestigated.

There are two subspecies¹

• T. r. radjah
  • Moluccas to New Guinea
• T. r. rufitergum
  • Northern and eastern coastal Australia

[edit] Habitat

Mangrove forests and coastline

[edit] Behaviour

The Radjah Shelduck forms long-term pair-bonds, and is usually encountered in lone pairs or small flocks. During the wet season the males commonly become very irritable, and have been observed attacking their mates. Diet: molluscs, insects, sedge materials and algae.

Nesting: Pairs start searching for nesting sites during the months of January and February. They nest close to their primary food source.

Its nesting materials is self-supplied down feathers. Egg-laying is usually done by May or June; the clutches range from 6 to 12 eggs. Incubation time is about 30 days.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.

[edit] External Links