1. Common shelduck – Tadorna tadorna
Common shelduck is a large duck with a body length of 55-70 cm, a wingspan of 100-120 cm, and a weight of 1.5-2 kg. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is dark-gray, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic bang on the head. Common shelduck has a long neck, a powerful beak and bright red feet.
Common shelduck is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
Common shelduck is a migratory bird. It winters in Africa, South Asia and Australia. Common shelduck nests on the banks of rivers, lakes and other reservoirs, among reeds or other coastal vegetation. It builds its nests on the ground, in a small pit. A clutch of common shelduck contains 7-12 eggs. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 28-30 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
Common shelduck feeds on plant and animal foods. It eats grains, grass, roots, and small animals such as fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and insects.
Common shelduck is a fairly common species, but in some regions its number is decreasing. The reasons for this are pollution of water bodies, destruction of coastal plants and poaching.
In Ukraine, common shelduck is listed in the Red Book in the status of "Invaluable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko