Common Shelduck

Tadoma tadoma

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Has bred Baluchistan; widespread winter visitor. Adult has greenish-black head and neck. and largely white body with chestnut breast-band and black scapular stripe. White upperwing- and underwing - coverts contrast with black remiges in flight. Female slightly smaller than male, has narrower chestnut breast-band and lacks knob on bill. Adult eclipse duller and greyer. with less distinct breast band. Juvenile lacks breast-band and has sooty-brown crown, hind-neck and upperparts, and white forehead. cheeks. foreneck and underparts. Flight pattern similar to adult (though less contrasting!, but shows white trailing edge to secondaries. Dabbles on mud or upends in shallows. Open freshwater lakes and rivers; also coasts and salt lakes in Pakistan.