Tarlescough, Lancashire, UK. 8th December, 2017. Brown & white migratory Shelduck gather at Martin Mere for a supplementary feed provided by the WWT nature Reserve staff. The wetland reserve is home to thousands of migrant wildfowl, from Europe and Iceland, who come to overwinter in Lancashire expecting warmer climes and some respite from the winter weather. Credit: MediaWorldImages/AlamyLiveNews.
The shelducks are a group of larger often semi-terrestrial waterfowl, which can be seen as intermediate between geese (Anserinae) and ducks. They are mid-sized (some 50–60 cm) Old World waterfowl. The sexes are colored slightly differently in most species, and all have a characteristic upperwing coloration in flight: the tertiary remiges form a green speculum, the secondaries and primaries are black, and the coverts (forewing) are white. Their diet consists of small shore animals (winkles, crabs etc.) as well as grasses and other plants. They were originally known as "sheldrakes", which remained the most common name until the late 19th century.[
Size: 3404px × 2388px
Location: Burscough, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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