Sanetti Plateau, Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
January 2016
The Ruddy Shelduck breeds primarily from south-east Europe through Turkey to Mongolia and this population migrates south in the winter to India and south-east Asia. There is a disjunct population in north-west Africa, mainly in Morocco, and this population is sedentary. The population in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia is also sedentary. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.
It is found in a variety of mainly brackish water bodies where it feeds on plants, invertebrates and small fish.
Males and females are similar but the breeding male is brighter in colour and shows a narrow dark ring around the neck. This photo, taken through the mist on the Sanetti Plateau is of a female.| Previous Page | Back to Index | Next Page |