Ruddy Shelduck x Australian Shelduck

captive presumed Ruddy Shelduck x Australian Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria, UK), 28th December 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0280)

The extensive orange plumage of this bird points to Ruddy Shelduck or Cape Shelduck as one parent, and the orange tones on the head suggest Ruddy over Cape (both were present in the collection).  Although some Ruddy Shelduck x Common Shelduck hybrids have grey vermiculated body feathers the darkness of this one suggested either Paradise Shelduck or Australian Shelduck.  The contrastingly clean orange breast is probably indicative of Australian rather than Paradise, and the fact that a single male Australian Shelduck was in the same collection lends weight to this theory.

captive presumed Ruddy Shelduck x Australian Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria, UK), 28th December 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0275-0279)

A year later it was still present, though I couldn't see the Australian parent any longer.

captive presumed Ruddy Shelduck x Australian Shelduck, Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria, UK), 27th December 2012 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0281-0286)

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides