NZs paradise shelduck was called the painted duck by Cook
September 29, 2009
I saw my first Paradise ducklings of the season over this past weekend … these birds are unusual in they sometimes nest in trees, some 10 – 15 metres above the ground.
They are also the only birds in New Zealand who have increased in numbers since Cook arrived in NZ: he named them the painted duck.
female on Avon river
male paradise -- they pair for life
See other blogs I have written about NZs flightless birds and this website http://www.nzbirds.com/index2.html for more information.
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do you know why there called paradise ducks??
No sorry I don’t
It was Capt Cook who first named them the Painted Duck … but i dont know where the ‘paradise’ came from … maybe someone else can help with this