The South African Shelduck is also known as the Cape Shelduck. They are found in South Africa, Namibia and parts of Botswana. Both sexes have a rusty colored body and wings marked with black, white and green. Males have a gray head and females have a gray head with a white face.

Diet during the dry season is grain and algae. During the rest of the year they eat mostly seeds, insect larvae and crustaceans.