Australian Shoveler Australian Shoveler
Australian Shoveler

Scientific Classification

Common Name
Australian shoveler
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Genus Species
Spatula rhynchotis (resembling a bill; refers to spatulate bill)

Fast Facts

Description
This duck has a long, spatulate bill and whitish crescent-shaped patches in the area between the bill and eyes.
Size
46 to 56 cm (18.4 to 22.4 in.)
Weight
272 to 480 g (9.5 to 16.8 oz.)
Diet
Herbs, grasses, pondweeds, wigeon grass, eelgrass, and algae
Incubation
25 to 26 days
Clutch Size
7 to 8 eggs
Fledging Duration
40 to 45 days
Sexual Maturity
1 to 2 years
Life Span
Averages 20 to 30 years
Range
This species has a very large range and can be found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Habitat
Found in or near shallow lakes and pools with dense reed beds, marshes and lagoons
Population
The total population is unknown but scientists believe that there are at least 10,000 mature individuals. The population appears to be stable and is not severely fragmented .
Status 
IUCN: Least Concern
CITES: Not listed
USFWS:  Not listed

Fun Facts

Males are called drakes, females are hens, and young are called ducklings.

These ducks have a series of tiny vertical slits known as lamellae found along the upper and lower sides of the bill. They sift the surface of the water filtering out small animals and plants through their bill.


Ecology and Conservation

These birds are hunted recreationally in New Zealand but strict bag limits have been established to protect and stabilize their populations.


Bibliography

Austin, G. Birds of The World. New York. Golden Press, Inc., 1961.

Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained. UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981.

Johnsgard, P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978.

Scott, P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World. Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988.

Todd, F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego, Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996.

BirdLife International. 2016. Spatula rhynchotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22680243A92852551. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680243A92852551.en. Downloaded on 03 December 2018.

Photo Credit: Australasian_Shoveler_Male.jpg. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Image by: Grahame. Year Created: 23 January 2010. Website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australasian Shoveler Male.jpg. License: CC by SA 3.0.