Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Family: Ducks, Swans, and Geese · Status: Vagrant · Size: 43–52 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds from Europe to North Africa, temperate Asia and North America, wintering to equatorial Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, Korea, Japan, Indochina, Philippines, Central and South America.

Identification

In all plumages, the wide, spatula-shaped bill is diagnostic. Male in breeding plumage has dark green head and upper neck, white breast, chestnut flanks, and black tail-coverts; in eclipse plumage, head and neck become dark brown-black with dark-brown breast and light-brown flanks. In flight, pale blue upperwing-coverts and green speculum are conspicuous in both sexes. Female is mottled brown with a duller blue-grey forewing and green speculum. Juvenile resembles female but is darker and more uniform above, with more streaked underparts.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, including marshes, ponds, and tidal mudflats.

Behaviour

Feeds in very shallow water, using its bill to sift through the mud for small aquatic animals, plants and seeds.