Mrs. Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) - 20240228-03

            Large, colorful duck, endemic to New Zealand. Sexes told apart by head color; male has a black head with slight green iridescence, female has a white head and upper neck. Note the large white wing patch on the outer wing of both sexes in flight. Widely distributed throughout New Zealand. Utilizes rivers, wetlands, and lakes, as well as open grassy areas and farmland. Noisy; males give loud honking alarm calls, while females are higher-pitched. Found in pairs or in large flocks, especially post-breeding. Distinguishable from vagrant Australian Shelducks by absence of white neck ring, chestnut or buff breast, and black undertail.  (eBird)
-----------------
The first birds I saw in NZ (though I did not identify them then) were a pair of these beautiful ducks in a drainage ditch beside the airport road!  I was amazed when I realized that the "white-headed bird" was a duck, and that it was the mate of the black-headed duck.  By the time we saw this particular female, we had been seeing them every day.

Waikanae Estuary, Wellington, New Zealand.  February 2024.
Roadrunner Birding Tours.
   

Taken in: New Zealand / Wellington / Waikanae Beach (show map)

Taken on: February 28, 2024

Tags:

Roadrunner Birding Tours

New Zealand

Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

Canon EOS R6

Female

Adult

Anseriformes

Anatidae

Endemic

Least Concern

Wild

Bird

Lifer

Duck « less

Sets appears in: • New Zealand • Waterfowl (Anseriformes)

Groups appears in: • New Zealand ~ Aotearoa • Ducks and Geese more » • Wet Reflections • Bird Images • Animal Planet • Nature Heals the Soul • Your mind, your photos • New Zealand Birds • In Celebration of Women Photographers • Women who ♥ Photography • Animals (All Kinds) • !!FlickrGreen ~ Everyday is Earth Day!! • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • Birding In The Wild • The Birds Of Flickr • Beauty of Life • Bird's Eye View (Bird's Eyes) • CANON-NO LIMIT • as beautiful as you want • Beauty of Waterfowl • Dogs, Puppies, Cats, Birds, Fish, Insects and Frogs. • " BIRDS OF PLANET EARTH (BIRDS ONLY, NO PEOPLE, NO B&W) • Avibase • Macro & Close up Photography • Photographic Art Gallery • Tall Tails of Animals • Who Needs a Mirror? • Energized pictures • Flickr Social • Nature and Animals (Wild Only) • Bird,s-Vögel • Birds Feeding • * Naturaleza en Estado Puro * • * P E R I F E R I A - P H O T O * • ηαтυяє • Healing by Beauty • Brain Vision. Art. • Flickrology • "Fun and Happiness" • Mes Amis Photographes • Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM • Bird_Cat_Dog_Photos • Canon R5 and R6 Wildlife • As Aves que me Rodeiam | Birds Around Me • ANIMAL FAUNA AND INSECTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.FAUNA ANIMAL E • Feathered Flickr (Birds of a Feather) • " Colors " - the ones that catches the eye, • All Nature Photographs ( Birds, Mammals, Fish, Reptiles, Plants- • All Natural Nature (No 30/60 Limit) • The Wonder of Waterbirds • La passion de la belle photo • SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS Photos • Fans of Flickr • CLOSE LOOK • !!Bold, Vibrant, and Colorful!! • WATERBASED • Relax and enjoy • Immagini : stimolo, sogno, illuminazione • Your Best Photos Today • Flickr Wildlife • Marshbirds & Allies of the World - Rails, Bitterns, & More Birds • Awesome pictures and art in general no limits! « less

Camera: Canon EOS R6, f/11.0, 1/800 sec, 800mm, ISO 1000 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R6
Lens:	RF800mm F11 IS STM
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length:	800mm
ISO:	1000
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 2024 Macintosh
Show full info

Stats: 2,706 views / 86 comments

go back