Crested Shelduck
Tadorna cristata
冠麻鸭
Introduction
A critically endangered species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. The crested shelduck is a relict species apparently breeding in Korea and eastern Russia, with a proposed wintering range in southern Japan, southwest Korea, and along the east China coast. It inhabits various wetland and deep-water habitats, including coastal areas near river mouths and interior wetlands. Both sexes possess a distinctive green tuft of feathers protruding from the head. The species has not been definitively sighted since 1964, and if it survives, the population likely numbers fewer than 50 individuals.
Description
A sexually dimorphic shelduck measuring 63 to 71 centimeters in length, slightly larger than a mallard. The male has a greenish-black crown, breast, primaries, and tail, with brownish-black face, chin, and throat. Its belly, undertail coverts, and flanks are dark grey with black striations. The upper wing coverts are white and the speculum is iridescent green. The female has a white eye ring, black crest, and white face, chin, throat, neck, and upper wing coverts, with a dark brown body and white striations. Both sexes display a green tuft of feathers protruding from the head. The bill and legs are pinkish, with the female's being paler. The male has a small knob-like appendage at the base of the bill. Immature plumage remains unknown.
Identification
Initially misidentified as a possible hybrid between the ruddy shelduck and falcated duck due to intermediate plumage characteristics. Distinguished from similar species by the unique green crest tuft. Males are notably larger than females with more extensive greenish-black plumage and grey underparts with striations. Females have prominent white facial and neck markings contrasting with dark brown body plumage.
Distribution & Habitat
Known from specimens collected near Vladivostok, Russia and Busan and Kunsan in Korea. Proposed breeding range includes far-eastern Russia, northern North Korea, and northeast China. Proposed wintering range extends to southern Japan, southwest Korea, and along the east China coast to Shanghai. Historic records exist from Japan. While collected specimens are from coastal river mouth areas, unconfirmed reports come from interior wetlands in northeastern China. May breed in mountainous areas away from water or on volcanic lakes.
Behavior & Ecology
Believed migratory, traveling from Siberia in breeding season to Korea, southern Russia, and Japan for winter. Diet includes aquatic vegetation, agricultural crops, algae, invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, carrion, and garbage. May be nocturnal. Nest not described but likely uses burrows, cavities, or tree cavities similar to other shelducks. Clutch size probably under ten eggs, incubated by female alone. Breeding occurs from May to July. Observed in small flocks of two to eight birds.
Conservation
Listed as critically endangered. Known from only a handful of sightings and specimens. A group of three birds was sighted in 1964 near Vladivostok, representing the last confirmed observation. Subsequent unconfirmed reports include 1971 from North Korea, 1985 from eastern Russia, and multiple reports from northeastern China between 1985 and 1991. Threats include habitat loss from development projects like the Tumangan Development Project, hunting, and overcollection. Conservation efforts included distributing 300,000 leaflets across Russia, Japan, China, and Korea in 1983, and 15,000 leaflets in northeastern China in 1985 and 1991, which generated 82 unconfirmed reports.
Culture
Collected in Korea and exported to Japan between 1716 and 1736 for aviculture, where it was known as the Korean Mandarin Duck. Captured for Japanese aviculture until at least 1854 and portrayed in the Kanbun-Kinpu, a Japanese avicultural work. Old Chinese tapestries also depict a similar duck. Kuroda reported Japanese hunters hunting the species in Korea during the 1920s. Three museum specimens exist: a male and female in the Kuroda collection at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology in Tokyo, and the original 1877 female specimen in the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. The species appeared on a Mongolian postage stamp in 1991.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Tadorna
- eBird Code
- creshe1
Distribution
formerly Siberia and Korea; probably extinct, last reported 1916
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.