American common shelduck

The American common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna americanum) is a subspecies of common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, lakes, rivers, and ponds across North America to help boost biodiversity. The American common shelduck resembles a small short-necked goose in size and shape. It is a striking bird, with a reddish-pink bill, pink feet, a white body with dark golden patches and a black belly, and a dark green head and neck. The wing coverts are white, the primary remiges black, and the secondaries green (only showing in flight) and chestnut. The underwings are almost entirely white. Sexes are similar, but the female is smaller, with some white facial markings, while the male is particularly crisply coloured in the breeding season, his bill bright red and bearing a prominent knob at the forehead. Ducklings are white, with black cap, hindneck and wing and back patches. Juveniles are similarly coloured, greyish above and mostly white below, but already have the adult's wing pattern. The call mainly consists of a loud honk. The American common shelduck is omnivorous and primarily feeds on shellfish, snails, insects, small fish, worms, and seeds of various plants. Moulting flocks can be very large, since most pairs leave their partially grown young in a crèche with just one or two adults. This species is mainly associated with lakes and rivers in open country, breeding in rabbit burrows, tree holes, haystacks or similar. In winter it is common on suitable estuaries and tidal mudflats as well. The young will dive under water to avoid predators and the adults will fly away from them to act as a decoy. The conservation status of the American common shelduck is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American common shelduck's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.