South African Shelduck
Tadornacana
Photographed at Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Canada Sep 2011
Predominantly
light chestnut coloured with a grey head in the male and a grey head with
variable amounts of white in the female. Found mainly in southern Africa
on water bodies in grassland regions. Feeds on invertebrates and algae, and on
land on grain in crop fields.
Breeding season is from March
to December, peaking from June to September. The nest is made by the female in
a pre-existing cavity in the ground, most typically in an Aardvark burrow.
The female lays 6-15
eggs and the incubation period is probably for about 30 days. Only the female
incubates the eggs while the male protects the territory by hissing loudly to
inform the female of potential predators.
Both parents care for the young and drive off any animals that vaguely
look threatening - even herons and cormorants. Young are able to fly by 70 days
old and they leave the adults from 90-120 days old.
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