South African Shelduck

Afrikaans name: Kopereend

A male South African Shelduck

Photo © Steven Herbert

Tadorna cana

The South African Shelduck is found throughout most of South Africa but it is particularly common in the south-west.

Males South African Shelducks are orange-brown in colour with a grey head. Females are similar but their faces are white.

These birds feed on a variety of foods including grain, aquatic invertebrates and algae.

Females make their nests in existing holes such as disused Aardvark burrows. She can lay up to 15 eggs but it is normally around 7 to 11. Both parents tend to the eggs and chicks.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	90	Casarca cana
2nd	90	Tadorna cana
3rd	90	Tadorna cana
4th	90	Tadorna cana
5th	103	Tadorna cana
6th	103	Tadorna cana
7th	26	Tadorna cana

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	90	African Shelduck
2nd	90	African Shelduck
3rd	90	South African Shelduck
4th	90	South African Shelduck
5th	103	South African Shelduck
6th	103	South African Shelduck
7th	26	South African Shelduck

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	90	Berg-eend
2nd	90	Bergeend
3rd	90	Bergeend
4th	90	Bergeend
5th	103	Kopereend
6th	103	Kopereend
7th	26	Kopereend

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 34

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 76

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 138

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 133

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 84

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 72

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 83

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 62

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 58

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 28

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 45

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 88

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 10

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 88

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 408

Gamebirds of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: P.A. Clancey - Published: 1967 - Page: 14

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 64

Gamebirds and Waterfowl of Southern Africa - Author: CG Finch-Davies, Dr Alan Kemp - Published: 1986 - Page: 49

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 130

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 46

Gamebirds and Waterfowl of Southern Africa - Author: CG Finch-Davies, Dr Alan Kemp - Published: 1986 - Page: 47

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 100

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 32

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 11

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 37

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 36

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 4 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 12

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 64

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 55

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 168

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 168

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 52

A Coloured Key to the Wildfowl of the World - Author: Peter Scott - Published: 1957 - Page: 44

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List of South African Birds