Ruddy Shelduck

The ruddy shelduck is a distinctive waterfowl 58 to 70 cm long with a wingspan of 110 to 135 cm. Its body is orange-brown with a paler head, the tail and flight feathers are black, and the wing coverts are white. It is migratory, breeding in southeastern Europe and central Asia and wintering in the Indian subcontinent, with small resident populations in North Africa. It has a loud honking call (Wikipedia, general species account).

It mostly uses inland lakes, reservoirs and rivers. Pairs bond for long periods and nest in a crevice or hole in a cliff, tree or similar site, sometimes well away from water. About eight eggs are laid and incubated by the female alone for about four weeks.