Northern Shoveler Duck
by Robert Harris
Title
Northern Shoveler Duck
Artist
Robert Harris
Medium
Photograph
Description
This Shoveler duck (Spatula clypeata) hen was photographed at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near McNeal, Arizona. Many of the dabbling ducks use their flat bills to strain food items from the water, but the big spatulate bill of the Northern Shoveler is adapted to take this habit to the extreme. Flocks of shovelers often swim along with their big bills barely submerged in front of them, straining food from the muddy soup of shallow waters. Despite their heavy-set build, shovelers are good fliers; at large gatherings, groups often are seen taking off, circling the area repeatedly, then alighting again.
Uploaded
December 21st, 2022
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