reddish-tinged plumage, lighter about the head (Zoo; 2012-10-23)


Red Shoveler
Anas platalea

Native Range: South America

Notes: like other shoveler species, this bird feeds by using its spatulate bill to constantly strain the surface of the water for small bits of food; this gives the species a characteristic head-stays-level look as it swims around a pond or lake.


spatulate black bill (Zoo; 2012-10-23)

straining the surface of the water (Zoo; 2012-10-23)

a rather pointed tail; heavy body speckling (Zoo; 2012-10-23)

frontal view of the rather odd feeding habit (Zoo; 2012-10-23)