Tadorna ferruginea -- (Pallas, 1764)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAECommon names: Ruddy Shelduck; Tadorne casarca

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT°)

In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

In the EU27 the small population size qualifies for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<1,000 mature individuals), but as population size is increasing in the EU27, the final category is adjusted down one category to Near Threatened (NT°).

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Denmark; Georgia; Greece; Italy; Moldova; Romania; Russian Federation; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Turkey; UkraineVagrant:Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Czech Republic; Greenland (to DK); Finland; France; Germany; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland, Rep. of; Liechtenstein; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 17,000-26,500 pairs, which equates to 33,900-53,100 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 140-240 496, which equates to 280-480 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size trend is unknown. In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThis species frequents the shores of inland freshwater, saline and brackish lakes and rivers in open country, particularly those in open steppe, upland plateau and mountainous regions (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard 1978, Brown et al. 1982, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). However it is less dependent upon large

water bodies for resting and feeding than most other Anatidae, and often occurs a considerable distance from water during the breeding season (Scott and Rose 1996). In the non-breeding season this species prefers streams, slow-flowing rivers, freshwater pools, flooded grasslands, marshes and brackish or saline lakes in lowland regions and is also found on artificial reservoirs (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard, 1978, Brown et al. 1982, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). It avoids coastal waters and tall, dense vegetation or emergent and floating aquatic plants (Madge and Burn 1988). Breeding occurs in single pairs or loose groups and in Europe eggs are laid from mid-March. Clutches are normally eight or nine eggs (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). The species is omnivorous, its diet consisting of tender green shoots and the seeds of terrestrial vegetation, agricultural grains such as millet and wheat, littoral crustaceans such as shrimps, aquatic and terrestrial insects (especially Locusts), aquatic molluscs, small fish, frogs, amphibian spawn and worms (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard, 1978, Brown et al. 1982, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). In Europe the species is chiefly sedentary or dispersive, undertaking local movements linked to the availability of suitable water (moving away from drought-affected areas or to temporary wetlands) (Tucker and Heath 1994, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable non-breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable non-breedingAltitude Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsHunting is a threat, especially in south-east Europe (Johnsgard 1978, Kear 2005, Popovkina 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) (e.g. in Turkey) (Scott and Rose 1996). Other threats to western populations include the loss and degradation of inland wetlands through subterranean water extraction for irrigation (Popovkina 2006) (leading to decreasing water supplies for seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands), widespread drainage of shallow marshes and lakes (Scott and Rose 1996), salt extraction (Green et al. 2002, Popovkina 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), urban development, pollution, introduction of exotic fish and overgrazing (Green et al. 2002, Popovkina 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). At the Klingnau Dam in northern Switzerland the species has been known to hybridise with the South African Shelduck (Tadorna cana) from escaped captive populations, which could pose a threat to the integrity of both species (Owen et al. 2006). The species is also susceptible to avian influenza (strain H5N1) and is therefore threatened by outbreaks of the virus (Melville and Shortridge 2006).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Livestock farming & ranching (scale unknown/unrecorded)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (intentional use - species is the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Energy production & mining

Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Avian Influenza Virus (H subtype)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Likely to Return

Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines

Past Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact

StressesHybridisation

Natural system modifications

Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation; Species mortality; Species disturbance; Reduced reproductive success

Natural system modifications

Abstraction of surface water (unknown use)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Pollution Domestic & urban waste water (type unknown/unrecorded)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Residential & commercial development

Housing & urban areas

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Likely to Return

Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines

Past Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation; Species disturbance

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayCMS Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. Bern Convention Appendix II. The restoration of habitats, creation of artificial nests and feeding (Popovkina 2006) seems to have benefited this species (Zubko et al. 2001).

Conservation Actions ProposedConservation priorities for the species include protection from hunting in south-east Europe and further ringing studies to investigate the status of individual populations and their migratory patterns (Kear 2005, Popovkina 2006). The protection of key sites from development and habitat change should be ensured. Research to assess the impacts of hybridisation with Tadorna cana should be undertaken.

BibliographyBrown, L.H., Urban, E.K. and Newman, K. 1982. The birds of Africa vol I. Academic Press, London.Carboneras, C. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52835 on 22 January 2015).Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. 1977. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic, vol. I: ostriches to ducks. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Green, A.J., El Hamzaoui, M., El Agbani, M.A. and Franchimont, J. 2002. The conservation status of Moroccan wetlands with particular reference to waterbirds and to changes since 1978. Biological Conservation 104: 71-82.Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London.Johnsgard, P.A. 1978. Ducks, geese and swans of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London.

BibliographyKear, J. 2005. Ducks, geese and swans volume 1: general chapters; species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.Madge, S. and Burn, H. 1988. Wildfowl. Christopher Helm, London.Melville, D.S. and Shortridge, K.F. 2006. Migratory waterbirds and avian influenza in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway with particular reference to the 2003-2004 H5N1 outbreak. In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 432-438. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK.Owen, M., Callaghan, D. and Kirby, J. 2006. Guidelines on Avoidance of Introductions of Non-native Waterbird Species. Bonn, Germany.Popovkina, A.B. 2006. Conflicting trends in Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea populations: a myth or reality? In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 480-481. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK.Scott, D.A. and Rose, P.M. 1996. Atlas of Anatidae populations in Africa and western Eurasia. Wetlands International, Wageningen, Netherlands.Zubko V., Havrilenko V. and Semenov N. 2001. Restoration of the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Population in the “Ascania Nova” nature reserve (Southern Ukraine). Acta Ornithol. 36: 97–100

Map (see overleaf)