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Tadorna variegata
This is a male Paradise Shelduck. In Māori they are called Pūtangitangi/Pūtakitaki and they are endemic to New Zealand. They both have rather striking plumage, exhibiting sexual dimorphism. The male has a black head and barred black body while the female (see spotting: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/15... ) has a white head and chestnut body.
Him and the female were drinking water from where the estuary flows into the sea near the end of the beach at Smails Beach, Dunedin.
It was a reasonably cool day with cloud cover. Bit of a breeze on arrival which picked up a bit and there was a light sprinkle when leaving the beach. This pair didn't seem very bothered at us being near them. Some interesting reading from the Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-an...
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