Paradise Ducks

Here is a pair of paradise shelducks. They are native to New Zealand. The female, with her white head and brown body is on the left, while the male has a black head and dark body. They mate for life and return to the same nesting site each year. They feed on pasture, which can be a problem for farmers when there are large numbers of them. Unfortunately culling becomes necessary and they are sometimes fair game during the duck shooting season.

Shelducks have some goose-like qualities. They can be very noisy. When flying a pair call loudly almost incessantly. He calls zonk zonk and she calls a kind of gzeek gzeek. A large number together can kick up a tremendous racket.

I captured this pair on the banks of the Avon River in Christchurch.


Had the final test in the series today and was pleased to hear that nothing nasty was found.