Overview
The males are mostly dark, with a chestnut breast. They have white neck collars and dark green heads. The females are similar, but they have white around the eyes and are smaller. Both males and females show a white wing during flight.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Tadorna
- Species
- tadornoides
Habitat
The Australian shelduck's primary habitat is lakes in fairly open country.
Diet
Grasses and other plants.
Behavior
It is extremely wary. It makes its nest in tree holes, holes in banks, or similar locations. Eight to fifteen eggs are laid, and incubated for between thirty and thirty-three days.
Hunting
They are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.