Common Shelduck

The common shelduck resembles a small, short-necked goose in size and shape, 55–65cm long with a wingspan of 100–120cm. It has a reddish-pink bill, pink feet, a white body with chestnut patches and a black belly, and a dark green head and neck. The wing coverts are white, the primaries black, and the secondaries black with a strong green iridescence in good light (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is widespread and common in the Palearctic. In Europe and north-west Africa it mainly breeds on temperate coasts, saline pools and estuaries, and in Asia on inland salt lakes, increasingly also on open freshwater inland. Asian populations migrate to subtropical areas in winter, south to northern India and southern China. Shelducks typically first breed at two years old, and the call is a loud honk (Wikipedia, general species account).