CR

Tadorna cristata

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Crested Shelduck faces potential extinction due to widespread habitat destruction across its East Asian range, with coastal wetlands and river deltas converted for agriculture and urban development. Hunting pressure and egg collection historically reduced populations, while pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural chemicals continues to degrade remaining wetland habitats. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Crested Shelduck inhabits coastal mudflats, estuaries, and freshwater wetlands across East Asia, particularly favoring shallow waters with abundant invertebrate prey. It relies on both marine and freshwater environments, using coastal areas for feeding and inland wetlands for breeding.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Tadorna cristata classified as Critically Endangered?
Tadorna cristata is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Crested Shelduck faces potential extinction due to widespread habitat destruction across its East Asian range, with coastal wetlands and river deltas converted for agriculture and urban development. Hunting pressure and egg collection historically reduced populations, while pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural chemicals continues to degrade remaining wetland habitats. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Where does Tadorna cristata live?
Tadorna cristata occurs in China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, and South Korea. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Tadorna cristata?
The main threats to Tadorna cristata are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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