Female, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

The Paradise Shelduck, Tadorna variegata, is a large goose-like duck endemic to New Zealand. They are known to the M?ori as Putangitangi but now commonly referred to as the "Paradise duck", and are prized game birds. Both the male and female have striking plumage, the male has a black head and barred black body, the female a white head with a chestnut body.

The Paradise Shelducks usually live as pairs, grazing on grass and weeds, and will raid crops, particularly when molting.

Male, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

Paradise Shelducks form long-term pair bonds, often lasting for life, and defend territories. They have a long breeding season which is between August through December. They reach sexual maturity after two years, and build nests lined with grass and feathers hidden in high grass, hollow trees or beneath rotting logs. The mean clutch size is around nine eggs. Chicks fledge after eight weeks.

Paradise Shelducks were uncommon prior to European settlement, however changes to habitat caused by the conversion of forest to pasture, and the deliberate provisioning on ponds by hunting groups, has led to a large increase in the numbers of these ducks.

The genus name Tadorna comes from Celtic roots and means "pied waterfowl", essentially the same as the English "shelduck".