Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Ruddy Shelduck

Ruddy Shelduck: UK Status: Non native but can be seen in breeding centres, zoos and wildlife parks. Odd ones are occasionally recorded in the wild, one was seen recently at Fairburn Ings, and another a couple of days later at Lotherton Hall, West Yorkshire.

Habitat: This duck is migratory and breeds in south eastern Europe and central Asia. They overwinter on the Indian sub-continent. They inhabit inland bodies of water such as canals, lakes, pools and reservoirs.

Breeding: They nest around inland lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of water. Nests are made of vegetation, and are sometimes some distance from the water. There are about eight off white, slightly glossy eggs in a clutch, only the female incubates them, this takes about four weeks.

Comment: This bird is known in India as the Brahminy Duck. As a result of conservation breeding programs, and private collections, a few birds have gone feral in the UK. The breeding status of these feral birds is unknown.