Paradise Shelduck
Paradise ShelduckParadise ShelduckParadise ShelduckParadise Shelduck

Paradise Shelduck

Tadorna variegata

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Arthur's Pass National Park
128 Verified records at Arthur's Pass National Park
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata), also known as the paradise duck, or pūtangitangi in Māori, is a species of shelduck, a group of goose-like ducks, which is endemic to New Zealand. Johann Friedrich Gmelin placed it in the genus Anas with the ducks, geese, and swans. Both the male and female have striking plumages: the male has a black head and barred black body and the female has a white head with a chestnut body. They weigh between 1.09 and 2 kg (2.4 and 4.4 lb) and are between 63 and 71 cm (25 and 28 in) in length. Paradise shelducks mate for life and usually live as pairs, and moult their feathers from December to February. They are primarily herbivorous, and mostly graze on pasture grasses and clover, but have been observed eating a wide range of invertebrates. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Paradise Shelduck sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 128 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Arthur's Pass National Park

Blue Duck
EN Endemic

Blue Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

5–10% · With luck
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

5–10% · With luck
Pacific Black Duck
LC

Pacific Black Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas superciliosa

<5% · Rare
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

<5% · Rare
Black Swan
LC Endemic

Black Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus atratus

<5% · Rare
New Zealand Scaup
LC Endemic

New Zealand Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya novaeseelandiae

Insufficient data
Australasian Shoveler
LC

Australasian Shoveler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula rhynchotis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
50–60
May
10–20
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
60–70%
2 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
50–60%
3 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
40–50%
4 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
20–30%
5 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
20–30%
6 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Paradise Shelduck in Arthur's Pass National Park?

About 27% of wildlife watchers report a Paradise Shelduck sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 128 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Paradise Shelduck in Arthur's Pass National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Paradise Shelduck in Arthur's Pass National Park in our monthly data.

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