Black and white and breeds all over
THE European shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) is one of the most handsome species of ducks. Its tortoiseshell colours are clearly defined, and it is well represented in waterfowl collections. In about half of all the duck species, the female is sombrely plumaged, which aids camouflage when nesting. Unusually among the northern species of waterfowl, the sexes of the present species have similar plumage, but this doesn’t present problems for the female as she often nests underground.
The ever-so-slightly duller female sometimes has a white spot at the base of its beak, whereas the male is a bigger bird with a larger chest band. During the breeding season, the drake usually has a red knob at the base of its flesh-coloured bill, though this can be absent in some males. On
