Species:

Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri)

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

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Length (cm):
43-47
61-67
Wingspan (cm):
70-76
0-0
Weight (gram):
670-1000
925-1600
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Diagnostic, squarish head profile with flat crown, high bill base, steep forehead in all plumages. Male unmistakable with white and orange-buff underparts, white head with dark eye-patch, black collar and black back. Female mottled brown, but distinguished by head profile and blue wingbar with white edges. Identifiable at a distance by its habit of holding the tail raised clear of the water like a dabbling duck.

Sound:

Male seldom heard. Display sound probably a clear whistle rising slightly and then falling in pitch, a bit like Golden Plover. Female more noisy with indistinct guttural sounds.

Display-calls:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Andrew Spencer,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Appearance:

May only be confused with Egyptian Goose, but differs in short, dark legs, dark bill, thicker neck, rufous belly and lack of eye-patch. Black and white wings conspicuous in flight as in Egyptian Goose, but lacks thin, black stripe at rear of white coverts. Sexes quite similar. Male with ringed neck in breeding plumage, and female with more contrasting facial pattern. Immature similar to female, but with "dirty" white wing-patches. Less dependent on water than most other ducks.

Sound:

Distinct voice and quite vocal. Nasal, trumpeting, donkey-like calls, often drawn out to a rattling, trill (Chewbacca of Star Wars). Male higher pitched than female.

Call/song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Hans Matheve, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species