Paradise Shelduck
Tadorna variegata
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae (Anàtids)
- GenusTadorna (Typical Shelducks)
- SpeciesTadorna variegata (Paradise Shelduck)
The paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata), also known as the paradise duck, or pūtangitangi in Māori, is a species of shelduck, a group of goose-like ducks, which is endemic to New Zealand. Johann Friedrich Gmelin placed it in the genus Anas with the ducks, geese, and swans. Both the male and female have striking plumages: the male has a black head and barred black body and the female has a white head with a chestnut body. They weigh between 1.09 and 2 kg (2.4 and 4.4 lb) and are between 63 and 71 cm (25 and 28 in) in length. Paradise shelducks mate for life and usually live as pairs, and moult their feathers from December to February. They are primarily herbivorous, and mostly graze on pasture grasses and clover, but have been observed eating a wide range of invertebrates. Wikipedia →
50–60% of wildlife watchers report a Paradise Shelduck sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 931 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Fiordland National Park
Australian Shelduck
Tadorna tadornoides
New Zealand Scaup
Aythya novaeseelandiae
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa
Grey Teal
Anas gracilis
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Australasian Shoveler
Spatula rhynchotis
Blue Duck
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Brown Teal
Anas chlorotis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park?
About 54% of wildlife watchers report a Paradise Shelduck sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 931 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Paradise Shelduck in Fiordland National Park in our monthly data.