Tadornini

bird tribe

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July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The Tadornini are a tribe within the bird family Anatidae, which also includes ducks, geese, and swans. This tribe is comprised of sheldgeese and shelducks. Shelducks are characterized by their somewhat gooselike build, long legs, upright stance, and short bills. They are found in the Old World.12

Examples include the common shelduck of Europe and Asia, which is black and white with a reddish chest band, and the ruddy shelduck, found from North Africa to Mongolia, which is orangish with a pale head and white wing patches. Male shelducks often have melodious whistling calls and can be aggressive year-round.2

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anseriform
Annotated classification
Subfamily Tadorninae (sheldgeese, shelducks, and steamer ducks)18 species in 6 genera, worldwide except North and Central America. Iridescent green wing speculum and, generally, white wing coverts; sexes alike in majority; mature in second year. Pugnacious. Downy young black and white. One recently extinct species.
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Subfamily Tadorninae (sheldgeese, shelducks, and steamer ducks)18 species in 6 genera, worldwide except North and Central America. Iridescent green wing speculum and, generally, white wing coverts; sexes alike in majority; mature in second year. Pugnacious. Downy young black and white. One recently extinct species.
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sheldgoose
…members of the duck tribe Tadornini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The smaller members of the tribe are called shelducks. Sheldgeese inhabit tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are small-billed and rather long-legged, with upright stance; some have bony spurs—which function as weapons—at the wing bend. Typically they show white wing…
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…members of the duck tribe Tadornini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The smaller members of the tribe are called shelducks. Sheldgeese inhabit tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are small-billed and rather long-legged, with upright stance; some have bony spurs—which function as weapons—at the wing bend. Typically they show white wing…
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shelduck
…members of the duck tribe Tadornini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The larger members of the tribe are called sheldgeese. Shelducks are short-billed ducks of somewhat gooselike build, with long legs and upright stance. They are found in the Old World.
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…members of the duck tribe Tadornini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The larger members of the tribe are called sheldgeese. Shelducks are short-billed ducks of somewhat gooselike build, with long legs and upright stance. They are found in the Old World.
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