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Paradise Shelduck (male)
Tadorna variegata
-45.9063, 170.566
Field Notes
Description:
This is a male Paradise Shelduck. In Māori they are called Pūtangitangi/Pūtakitaki and they are endemic to New Zealand. They both have rather striking plumage, exhibiting sexual dimorphism. The male has a black head and barred black body while the female (see spotting: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1574553718 ) has a white head and chestnut body.
Habitat:
Him and the female were drinking water from where the estuary flows into the sea near the end of the beach at Smails Beach, Dunedin.
Notes:
It was a reasonably cool day with cloud cover. Bit of a breeze on arrival which picked up a bit and there was a light sprinkle when leaving the beach. This pair didn't seem very bothered at us being near them.
Some interesting reading from the Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/paradise-…
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