The radjah shelduck (Radjah radjah), is a species of shelduck found mostly in New Guinea and Australia, and also on some of the Moluccas. It is known alternatively as the raja shelduck, black-backed shelduck, or in Australia as the Burdekin duck.
The specific name radjah is from the Moluccan name Radja for the radjah shelduck on the island of Buru in Indonesia.[2]
Formerly placed in the genusTadorna, it differs markedly from other members in external morphology and mtDNAcytochrome bsequence data, suggesting its status should be reinvestigated.[3] Current classification places it in its own monotypic genus Radjah.
Descriptionedit
Radjah shelduck at the London Wetland Centre
Both the male and female of the species are mostly white, with dark wing-tips and a distinctive "collar" of dark feathers. When viewed from above, during flight or with wings outstretched, green bands are visible on the tops of their wings. To communicate, the female utters a harsh rattle while the male emits a breathy, "sore-throat" whistle.
Distribution and habitatedit
The radjah shelduck inhabits the mangrove forests and coastline of New Guinea (West Papua and Papua New Guinea) and Australia, and some of the Moluccas in eastern Indonesia. In Australia, its primary range is coastal, tropical northern Australia, extending as far south as central Queensland, west through the upper regions of the Northern Territory (including Kakadu National Park) to the Kimberley in Western Australia. The radjah shelduck is listed as a protected bird in all the states of Australia, and penalties are enforced for harming or disturbing them.
The radjah shelduck forms long-term, bonded pairs, and they are usually encountered in lone pairs or small flocks. During the rainy season, the males commonly become very irritable, and have been observed attacking their mates.
The ducks' preferred diet consists mainly of mollusks, aquatic or other insects, worms, aquatic weeds, sedge materials and algae. Pairs start searching for nesting sites during the months of January and February. They nest close to their primary food source, often in the hollow limbs of dead or dehydrated trees, which makes habitat destruction a particular issue.
The radjah shelduck does not use nesting materials apart from some self-supplied down feathers. Egg-laying is usually completed by May or June, but depends on the extent of the wet season. The clutches range from 6 to 12 eggs. Incubation time is about 30 days.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Radjah radjah". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680029A92839434. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680029A92839434.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 330. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Sraml, M.; Christidis, L.; Easteal, S.; Horn, P. & Collet, C. (1996): Molecular Relationships Within Australasian Waterfowl (Anseriformes). Australian Journal of Zoology44(1): 47–58. doi:10.1071/ZO9960047
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Radjah radjah.
Wikispecies has information related to Radjah radjah.
radjah, shelduck, radjah, shelduck, radjah, radjah, species, shelduck, found, mostly, guinea, australia, also, some, moluccas, known, alternatively, raja, shelduck, black, backed, shelduck, australia, burdekin, duck, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn,. The radjah shelduck Radjah radjah is a species of shelduck found mostly in New Guinea and Australia and also on some of the Moluccas It is known alternatively as the raja shelduck black backed shelduck or in Australia as the Burdekin duck Radjah shelduck Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Genus RadjahReichenbach 1853 Species R radjah Binomial name Radjah radjah Garnot amp Lesson RP 1828 Subspecies R r radjah Lesson RP 1828 R r rufitergum Hartert 1905 Synonyms Tadorna radjah Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editThe specific name radjah is from the Moluccan name Radja for the radjah shelduck on the island of Buru in Indonesia 2 Formerly placed in the genus Tadorna it differs markedly from other members in external morphology and mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data suggesting its status should be reinvestigated 3 Current classification places it in its own monotypic genus Radjah Description edit nbsp Radjah shelduck at the London Wetland Centre Both the male and female of the species are mostly white with dark wing tips and a distinctive collar of dark feathers When viewed from above during flight or with wings outstretched green bands are visible on the tops of their wings To communicate the female utters a harsh rattle while the male emits a breathy sore throat whistle Distribution and habitat editThe radjah shelduck inhabits the mangrove forests and coastline of New Guinea West Papua and Papua New Guinea and Australia and some of the Moluccas in eastern Indonesia In Australia its primary range is coastal tropical northern Australia extending as far south as central Queensland west through the upper regions of the Northern Territory including Kakadu National Park to the Kimberley in Western Australia The radjah shelduck is listed as a protected bird in all the states of Australia and penalties are enforced for harming or disturbing them The species prefers the salty waters of mangrove flats and paperbark tree swamps but will visit all manner of brackish and freshwater swamps lagoons lakes estuaries river deltas and billabongs further inland during the wet season Behaviour editThe radjah shelduck forms long term bonded pairs and they are usually encountered in lone pairs or small flocks During the rainy season the males commonly become very irritable and have been observed attacking their mates The ducks preferred diet consists mainly of mollusks aquatic or other insects worms aquatic weeds sedge materials and algae Pairs start searching for nesting sites during the months of January and February They nest close to their primary food source often in the hollow limbs of dead or dehydrated trees which makes habitat destruction a particular issue The radjah shelduck does not use nesting materials apart from some self supplied down feathers Egg laying is usually completed by May or June but depends on the extent of the wet season The clutches range from 6 to 12 eggs Incubation time is about 30 days References edit BirdLife International 2016 Radjah radjah IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22680029A92839434 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22680029A92839434 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 330 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Sraml M Christidis L Easteal S Horn P amp Collet C 1996 Molecular Relationships Within Australasian Waterfowl Anseriformes Australian Journal of Zoology 44 1 47 58 doi 10 1071 ZO9960047External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Radjah radjah nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Radjah radjah Radjah Shelduck article on the Honolulu Zoo website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Radjah shelduck amp oldid 1215871017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
