| South African shelduck | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult male | |
| |
| Adult female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Tadorna |
| Species: | T. cana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tadorna cana (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
| |
| |
| IUCN distribution of the South African shelduck
Extant (resident)
| |
The South African shelduck or Cape shelduck (Tadorna cana) is a species of shelduck, a group of large goose-like birds which are part of the bird family Anatidae, which also includes the swans, geese and ducks. This is a common species native to southern Africa.
This is a 64 cm (25 in) long bird which breeds mainly in Namibia and South Africa. In the austral winter, many birds move north-east from the breeding range to favoured moulting grounds, where sizable concentrations occur.
This species is mainly associated with lakes and rivers in fairly open country, breeding in disused mammal holes, usually those of the aardvark. Pairs tend to be very nomadic when not in breeding season.[2]
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Tadorna cana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680007A92838539. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680007A92838539.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Newman, Vanessa (2010). Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Pippa Parker. p. 112. ISBN 9781770078765.