drake in breeding plumage (California, USA; 2008-01-13)


Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata

Native Range: North America and Eurasia

Notes: a duck of marshy ponds; large spoon-shaped bill strains water for algae and other food particles; seldom exhibits tip-up behavior but instead swims along the surface with its bill barely submerged; shows another unique feeding behavior in which several to many individuals gather in a swirl, swim in a circle, and thereby create a vortex to stir up food from the pond's bottom.

drake in nonbreeding plumage (California, USA; 2006-11-18)
drake in flight; blue-gray patch on forewing (California, USA; 2008-01-13)

drake in flight; white breast (California, USA; 2008-01-13)
hen; note large spoon-shaped bill (California, USA; 2006-11-18)

hen in flight; blue-gray forewing patch lighter (California, USA; 2008-01-13)
hen in flight, ventral view (California, USA; 2006-11-04)

breeding pair (California, USA; 2008-01-13)
breeding pair (California, USA; 2008-01-20)

breeding pair in flight (California, USA; 2008-01-13)
typical feeding posture (California, USA; 2006-11-18)

large feeding swirl (California, USA; 2007-01-01)
partially eclipsed drake posing for portrait (California, USA; 2006-11-18)