Northern shoveler
The northern shoveler is a distinctive duck known for its broad, flat, spoon-shaped bill, which aids in its feeding techniques. This species, part of the Anatidae family, primarily inhabits freshwater lakes, marshes, and ponds across the northern hemisphere. The northern shoveler displays sexual dimorphism; males have vibrant plumage featuring a green head and chestnut sides, while females possess more subdued coloration for camouflage. These ducks are omnivorous, employing a unique feeding method that involves swimming in circles to create whirlpools, thereby stirring up food from the bottom of their habitat.
Typically, northern shovelers are found in small groups or larger flocks, especially during migration periods. Their mating season occurs from April to June, where males engage in courtship displays to attract females. After choosing a mate, the female builds a nest near water, laying 9 to 11 eggs, which she incubates for about 25 days. The ducklings are precocial and can feed themselves shortly after hatching. While northern shovelers face predation from various animals, they are not considered a threatened species and can live up to two to three years, with some individuals reaching over 20 years.
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Northern shoveler
The northern shoveler is named for its northern-hemisphere habitat and its broad, flat bill which has a spoon-shaped tip. It has also been called the spoonbill duck. This duck is one of four shoveler species. The other three live in Africa, Australia, and South America.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Spatula
Species: Clypeata
Freshwater lakes, marshes, and ponds are the most common places to see northern shovelers. They tend to live near shallow water with dense vegetation and grass. Pairs, small groups, or flocks of up to 20 are common, and large flocks may gather for migration.
A long, broad, flat, black bill extends from the face of the male northern shoveler. A similar bill of yellowish-brown allows the female to feed as the male does. The female's dull-cream plumage with brown markings camouflages her in the vegetation. The male's yellow eyes, green head, chestnut sides and belly, white breast, and dark back feathers make him more noticeable. Both are around 19 inches (48 centimeters) long and weigh about 21 ounces (600 grams). Their wings span 30 inches (76 centimeters). The male has light-blue patches on his wings which are visible when he is in flight.
The northern shoveler is an omnivore, or animal that eats meat and plants. The northern shoveler may feed in small groups of two or three or alone. One common feeding technique is to swim in circles in shallow water while it sweeps its partly open bill from side to side. The movement of the duck causes small whirlpools which stir food from the bottom of the lake, pond, or marsh. The bird's broad, flat, spoon-shaped bill shovels, or scoops, water and food inside and then filters the water from the sides of the bill through special hair-like edges called lamellae. Tiny plants and animals called plankton, which can only be seen under a microscope, remain in the bill and are swallowed. The shoveler also swims with its head and neck underwater and may reach down to seize crustaceans, mollusks, insects, larvae, leaves, and seeds. Feeding times are mostly during the day, although in some places it feeds under cover of night.
During winter, even before mating season occurs in April through June, groups of up to 12 males may begin displaying their feathers to a single female. Through this courting behavior, each hopes to attract her to mate with him. After she chooses her mate from among her many suitors, the male and female select a nesting site on the breeding grounds. While some shovelers migrate between winter and breeding ranges, others remain in one place year-round. The nest is most often on the ground and is always close to the water. The male guards the female while she makes the nest, lays her nine to 11 eggs, and incubates them for 25 days. Shortly after hatching, the ducklings are able to feed themselves, but they continue to develop their feathers for six weeks after hatching. The ability to mate for the first time comes at the age of one year.
Foxes, raccoons, owls, hawks, gulls, mink, weasels, skunks, coyotes, and crows may prey on the northern shoveler. Northern shovelers may live to be two to three years old on average, but the oldest-known shoveler was a little over 20 years old. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Northern Shoveler Identification.” All About Birds, 2024, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern‗Shoveler/id#. Accessed 1 May 2024
Kürthy, Alexander. “Northern Shoveler - Facts, Diet, Habitat, & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/northern-shoveler. Accessed 1 May 2024.