The Ruddy Shelduck originates from Southern Europe, North Africa and South and Central Asia (with some populations wintering in South East Asia). It is a large rusty orangey brown duck, 64cm in length and with a wingspan of 133cm. The male is slightly larger the female and weighs 1.4kg to her 1.2kg (Robinson, 2005).
The Ruddy Shelduck has been recorded in England, Ireland Scotland and Wales with over a 100 records since 1950 but breeding has only occurred in England with 1 or 2 pairs breeding in some years. All these birds are believed to be escapees or released birds (Lever, 2009) and although some are believed to have flown into the country these are probably from the feral colony in NW Europe (Smith, 2004), although some people on various forums/blogs have suggested they may have come from the wild non feral populations of the Balkans or Asia. All the recent breeding reports are from Norfolk, with the species reported from 22 sites at which there were 3 breeding pairs hatching 21 young (Lever, 2009).
That said I have a photo of a Ruddy Shelduck which had some ducklings with it from Regents Park (where a pair are present), but I am unsure if they were part of the collection or if the ducklings even belonged to the bird
There is also an interesting record from Rutland Water in 1996 where a male Ruddy Shelduck mated with an Eygptian Goose (Lever, 2009). I personally spotted this duck which looks like a ruddy shelduck x shelduck cross, also at Rutland.
References
Lever, C., 2009, The Naturalized Animals of Britain and Ireland, New Holland Publishers Ltd.
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.24, June 2009), BTO Research Report, 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
Smith, R., 2004, Species Spotlight – Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Dee Estuary Newsletter, http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/news0704.htm
I have seen a bird almost the same as your Ruddy Shelduck cross Common Shelduck picture on the lower Colne estuary with other Common Shelduck twice this year (01/13). It has less white in the neck ring. It carries no i.d. rings.
Personally glad to see Ruddy Shelduck in Britan – it’s what I call a near native, lives not too far away from UK where it co-exists with species that also live here. Believe it enhances bio diversity, means we can host another species for conservation reason and makes our wildlife that bit more interesting. Don’t like the ring necked parakeet in briatin because I feel that a true alien and will more likely impinge upon native species
A pair of Ruddy Shelduck have definitely been settled all week along the Trent in Nottingham, between Trent Bridge and the Suspension Bridge. They look most attractive and not too shy or nervous. I have lived here for many years and have never seen them before.
J Hughes – I saw the same pair along the Trent yesterday, and did a double-take. I’ve never seen this bird before, despite cycling along the Trent frequently for many years.
It took me a bit of searching online to identify what the birds were, and eventually found my way here. I’m pleased to have seen the birds – they brought a bit of colour quite different to what we’re used to seeing by the Trent.
So happy to find I was not going mad – I, too, have also seen the pair on the Trent between the suspension and Trent bridges.
I don’t know my wildfowl too well, so had to google my pictures first, but thought I must be wrong when I read that they were largely an African and Asian species.
Glad to have the web to confirm my sighting here in Nottingham!
I saw these two birds on 2nd May 2015 as I was cycling along the Trent embankment near the suspension bridge. As they were so colourful, attractive and unusual I took a photo on my phone so I could try to identify them, but could not find them in my British Bird book. My daughter helped me to find them on the internet, and I was pleased to learn that other people had also seen them in the same place. Someone I spoke to said that he had seen them there over the last two months. They seemed very unafraid and I hope they will be safe here. I wonder how they have arrived here as they are not a native species.
I took a photo of these a few weeks ago as I didn’t recognise what they were. Just remembered to look it up and found it classed as ‘rare’. Glad lots of other people are interested in the wildlife in Nottingham!
Those Ruddy Shelduck are still there between Trent Bridge & the Suspension Bridge. Saw them yesterday evening (23rd August) looking completely at home.
Ruddy Shelduck spotted today on Connaught Water in Epping Forest
Just saw a pair on the Thames near Kew bridge. Beautiful birds
I’ve just seen one of these in our pond! Worplesdon, Guildford! So pretty and an unusual colour.
We have just seen one of these in a field (by
Ravensthorpe reservoir, Northamptonshire) with lots Canada and Greylag geese.