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.

Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07 Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07
Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07 Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07

Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 1st September 2007

 

Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05 Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05
Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05 Ruddy Shelduck, Cley, 14-Aug-05

Ruddy Shelducks, Cley (Norfolk, UK), 14th August 2005

 

Ruddy Shelduck, Swanton Morley, 1-Sep-07  

Ruddy Shelducks, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 1st September 2007 (different birds from the one shown in the top four photos)

 

Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10
Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 Ruddy Shelduck, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10

Ruddy Shelducks, Göksu Delta (Turkey), 9th May 2010

 

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.