also: あかつくしがも
ruddy shelduck
A species of waterfowl (Tadorna ferruginea). The name is typically written in katakana.
The ruddy shelduck is a rare winter bird in Japan.
Hiragana spelling; less common than katakana but still used.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly found in older or specialized texts; the katakana form is strongly preferred.
The name combines アカ (red), ツクシ (an old name for the Chikushi region, now part of Fukuoka), and ガモ (duck). The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it likely refers to the bird's reddish plumage and a historical association with that area.