Paradise Shelduck

Māori name: Pūtangitangi

Scientific name: Tadorna variegata

Not Threatened

The paradise shelduck is New Zealand's most distinctive duck, with the female being the more colourful of the pair — sporting a striking white head and chestnut body, while the male is dark with a black head. Pairs are strongly monogamous and territorial, often seen together and calling loudly. They are commonly spotted around the Pāuanui estuary and surrounding farmland.

Did you know?

Paradise shelduck pairs bond for life and are fiercely devoted — if one is killed, the other may not re-pair for years. Both parents aggressively defend their chicks, often leading large broods across open ground.

Threats

Nests in hollow logs and burrows are vulnerable to stoats, ferrets, and cats. Chicks face heavy predation in the first weeks of life.

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