northern shoveler

Bird Profile: Northern Shoveler

1. Bird Name: English Name- Northern Shoveler, Scientific (Latin) Name- Anas Clypeata

2. Appearance: The Northern Shoveler is a medium to large dabbling duck. Its most distinct characteristic is its long and broad shovel-shaped bill, which gives the bird its name. It has a colorful and bright plumage and a black spatulate bill. The males display a dramatic mix of colors: a green head, white chest, and chestnut belly and flanks. They also have dark, glossy-green wing feathers and bright, yellowish-orange eyes. Females, on the other hand, are more demure with mottled light brown feathers, an orange-brown bill, and less glossy wing feathers.

3. Size: Northern Shovelers typically measure between 17 and 20 inches (43 to 50 cm) in length. They have a wingspan that extends from 27 to 30 inches (69 to 76 cm), and they can weigh anywhere between 1.3 and 2.0 lbs (600 to 900 grams).

4. Habitat & Distribution: The Northern Shovelers are a migratory species inhabiting numerous continents. They breed across the northern areas of North America, Europe, and Asia, and winter in southern regions of North and South America, Africa, and southern Asia. They primarily inhabit shallow wetlands, including marshes, mudflats, and flooded fields, where they can easily feed on aquatic invertebrates.

5. Interesting Facts:
a) Northern Shovelers use their unique spatulate bill to filter food out of the water by opening and shutting their bill very quickly, causing water to move in and out of their bill tip, thereby filtering out food particles.
b) They are often called ‘Spoonbill’ or ‘Spoonie’ due to their spoon-shaped bill.
c) During breeding season, males perform elaborate courtship displays, including head-throws, drinkings, and turning their heads from side to side.

6. Diet: The Northern Shoveler primarily feeds on invertebrates, seeds, and aquatic plants, gleaned from the water surface. Their diet includes midge larvae, water beetles, snails, crustaceans, and seeds of sedges and grasses.

7. Behavior & Sounds: Northern Shovelers are social birds, often seen in small groups. They are known for their unique ‘skimming’ feeding where they swim forward with their bill underwater, straining out food. Males produce a rhythmic, clacking noise during courtship displays, while females make a soft quack.

8. Conservation Status: The Northern Shoveler is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Red List due to its extensive range and large population, which makes it not currently facing any imminent threat of extinction.

9. Lifespan: The average lifespan of a Northern Shoveler in the wild is reported to be around 20-22 years, though some are known to live a bit longer.

10. Additional Notes:
a) The Northern Shoveler is recognized as ‘Cuchara Norteña’ in Spanish and ‘Canard souchet’ in French.
b) Northern Shovelers are not typically averse to human presence and have been known to nest in urban park ponds.
c) They play a crucial role in the ecosystem as they help maintain the balance of aquatic plant and invertebrate populations and provide a food source for predators.