Saturday 26 July 2008

Ducks in formal wear


I saw this flock of Australian shelducks (Tadorna tadornoides) in a paddock just south of Condah, SW Victoria. They were quite a distance from the road side. I had to cross a railway line to get closer. Of course, as I did, they took off in a flock and landed further away. Hence the rotten photos.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Australian shelducks are handsome birds. I know I say that about most waterbirds but these are particularly well-dressed. Males and females have almost identical plumage but females can be distinguished by narrow white lines around the eye and the base of the bill.