Secret Success

South African Shelduck

- David Allan

The story of the South African Shelduck Tadorna cana is one of intrigue, prosperity and, most recently, startling change.

These handsomely hued ducks, with their rich chestnut plumage, are endemic to southern Africa. In-flight they show bold white wing coverts similar to those of their closest relative in the region, the Egyptian Goose. They are typically found in pairs. Unlike most waterfowl, females are more striking in appearance than males as a result of their starkly white faces, with the males having plain dull grey heads. Novice birders therefore can be forgiven for confusing the sexes, although the noticeably larger size of males should provide a corrective cue. Juvenile shelducks of both sexes have grey heads and therefore resemble adult males, which is also unusual in waterfowl. The amount of white on the face of adult females varies greatly and some have completely whiteheads. Shelducks are unlikely to be misidentified, but they can easily be overlooked in flocks of ubiquitous Egyptian Geese. Unlike their overly familiar cousins, though, they are more aloof and alert and rarely allow a close approach. This may be related to the typically open nature of the xeric environments they inhabit and their penchant for spending time away from water on dry ground, both characteristics that call for circumspection. The female might be mistaken for a White-faced Whistling Duck, especially as a vagrant shelduck encountered alone is usually a female.