Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
The majority of Ruddy Shelducks in the UK are unlikely to be genuine wild vagrants from their native range. Escapes from captivity are frequent and these account for a number of sightings. However small influxes of this species appear each autumn, usually involving immature birds, and it now seems likely that these derive from an burgeoning feral population which exists in Continental Europe. This species has not yet become established as a ferally breeding bird in the UK, but it has bred here (including in Norfolk) and these birds may perhaps account for some of the flocks that have been seen in Norfolk recently.
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07") |
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Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 1st September 2007
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%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05") |
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Ruddy Shelducks, Cley (Norfolk, UK), 14th August 2005
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%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07") |
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Ruddy Shelducks, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 1st September 2007 (different birds from the one shown in the top four photos)
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.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10") |
.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10") |
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Ruddy Shelducks, Göksu Delta (Turkey), 9th May 2010
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Identifying Ruddy Shelducks should be straightforward, but beware the similar Cape Shelduck, a species which sometimes escapes from captivity and has recently been seen with Ruddy Shelducks in Norfolk. In flight, they have also been confused with Egyptian Goose by inexperienced birders.
The following Ruddy Shelducks are in captivity:
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
%20L.JPG "Ruddy Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands, 28-Dec-11") |
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captive Ruddy Shelducks (with hybrid Australian x Ruddy Shelduck in lower photos), Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria, UK), 28th December 2011
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captive Cape Shelduck (left) and Ruddy Shelduck (right), Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria, UK), 28th December 2011
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%20T.jpg "Shelduck")
%20T.JPG "Cape Shelduck")
%20T.JPG "Australian Shelduck x Ruddy Shelduck hybrid")