Tadornini
Tribe of shelducks and sheldgeese, intermediate between geese and dabbling ducks.
The Tadornini are a tribe of birds within the duck and waterfowl family Anatidae, specifically under the subfamily Anatinae. They include the shelducks and sheldgeese, and have sometimes been classified as their own subfamily. Most species are found in tropical regions or the Southern Hemisphere. Only two species—the common shelduck and the ruddy shelduck—breed in northern temperate areas, though the now-presumed extinct crested shelduck was also a northern bird. The Egyptian goose has been introduced to several northern regions as well. While most of these species have striking plumage, there is no consistent rule about whether males and females look alike, even within the same genus.
Regarding their classification, a review by Livezey (1986) moved several species once considered odd dabbling ducks or "perching ducks" into the Tadornini. However, DNA sequence studies have raised doubts about some of these placements: a number of supposed dabbling ducks and one unusual goose may actually belong here, while some genera thought to be close to shelducks appear to have different evolutionary relationships. The available evidence suggests that, as their appearance implies, Tadornini are somewhat intermediate between geese and dabbling ducks. But molecular data also indicates they are not the only lineage to have evolved a more duck-like form; diving ducks and seaducks are more distantly related.
The tribe includes several groups that are unequivocally placed here: *Tadorna* (shelducks, with six species across Europe, Africa, and Australasia, though possibly paraphyletic); *Radjah* (the radjah shelduck of Australia and New Guinea); *Centrornis* (the prehistoric Malagasy sheldgoose); *Alopochen* (the Egyptian goose and extinct African and Mascarene shelducks, with one living and two to three extinct species); *Neochen* (the Orinoco goose of South America); *Chloephaga* (sheldgeese, five species from South America); *Hymenolaimus* (the blue duck of New Zealand, formerly a "perching duck"); and *Merganetta* (the torrent duck of the Andes, also formerly a "perching duck").
Several other genera are provisionally placed here: *Malacorhynchus* (pink-eared ducks, one living and one prehistoric species from Australia, though possibly closer to Oxyurinae); *Cyanochen* (the blue-winged goose of Ethiopia, which may belong to a distinct subfamily); *Tachyeres* (steamer duck
- classification
- Tribe in subfamily Anatinae, family Anatidae
- distribution
- Largely tropical or Southern Hemisphere; two northern temperate species
- notable_species
- Common shelduck, ruddy shelduck, Egyptian goose, Orinoco goose, sheldgeese
- extinct_species
- Crested shelduck (presumed extinct), Malagasy sheldgoose (prehistoric), extinct African and Mascarene shelducks
- key_feature
- Plumage distinctive but sex similarity varies, even within a genus
Lore & Background
The Tadornini tribe includes shelducks and sheldgeese, with most species found in tropical or Southern Hemisphere regions. Only the common shelduck and ruddy shelduck breed in northern temperate areas, while the crested shelduck, now presumed extinct, was also a northern species. The Egyptian goose has been introduced in several northern regions. Most species have distinctive plumage, but there is no consistent pattern as to whether the sexes are alike, even within a single genus.
Reader's Guide
Following the review of Livezey (1986), several species formerly classified as aberrant dabbling ducks or as 'perching ducks' were placed in the Tadornini. However, mtDNA sequence analyses cast doubt on the allocation of several genera; many supposed dabbling ducks and one peculiar goose may more correctly belong here, while some genera believed to be close to shelducks appear to have different relationships. The available data indicates that the Tadornini are, as their appearance suggests, somewhat intermediate between geese and dabbling ducks, but molecular data suggests they are not the only lineage to evolve toward a more duck-like morphology, with diving ducks and seaducks being more distant. The tribe includes unequivocally placed genera such as Tadorna, Radjah, Centrornis, Alopochen, Neochen, Chloephaga, Hymenolaimus, and Merganetta, as well as provisionally placed genera like Malacorhynchus, Cyanochen, Tachyeres, and Plectropterus. Several genera currently placed elsewhere, such as Aix, Cairina moschata, Cereopsis, Callonetta, Chenonetta, and Salvadorina, may belong to Tadorninae.
Did You Know?
- The Tadornini has been treated as a subfamily in the past.
- Only two species, the common shelduck and the ruddy shelduck, breed in northern temperate regions.
- The crested shelduck is presumed extinct and was also a northern species.
- The Egyptian goose has been introduced in several northern regions.
More in Bird tribes 1-24
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