Radjah Shelduck

Description:

In this species, male and female are similar. Radjah Shelduck adult is a large duck. It has black back, rump and tail. Mantel, scapulars and breast band are dark rusty. Breast and belly are white. Upper and under wing coverts are mainly white. Flight feathers are blackish. Secondary feathers form bright green speculum, bordered with black in front, and with white stripe behind. Head and neck are white. Bill, legs and webbed feet are pink. Eyes are very pale, almost white. Juvenile resembles adult, with white parts slightly washed brownish. On wings, it has more black on great coverts, and duller speculum. Bill, legs and feet are whitish-pink. Eyes are dark brown.

Voice: 

Radjah Shelduck male utters raucous whistles, and female gives shrill, harsh rattles. 

They are mainly noisy at rest and in flight.

Habitat: 

Radjah Shelduck lives in open fresh or brackish shallow water, in mangroves, coastal lagoons and mudflats, and occasionally in sheltered bays. 

It can be seen further inland during the wet season.

Range: 

Radjah Shelduck is mainly sedentary in coastal tropical northern Australia, from Central Queensland, through Northern Territory to Western Australia.

Behaviour: 

Radjah Shelduck is usually seen in pairs or in small groups. Pairs form long-term pair-bonds. During wet season, male becomes very territorial, and it may attack its mate. They are strongly monogamous.

Thank you very much Heather!