Australasian Shoveler
Spatula rhynchotis
Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Spatula
Conservation status: least_concern
This species is a dabbling duck belonging to the genus Spatula. It is notable for the male having a blue-grey head with a vertical white crescent in front of the eyes.
How To Identify
They have a robust build, covered primarily in muted grays and browns, distinguished by a broad, flattened bill that is easily visible even at a distance.
Habitat
It inhabits shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, swamps, and coastal lagoons across Australia, New Zealand, and occasionally vagrants to nearby regions.
Behaviour
This duck is a dabbling dabbler that often feeds in shallow water by tipping forward to filter invertebrates and plant matter, and it is notably vocal, with males producing a distinctive soft chattering call during breeding season.
Native Range
The Australasian Shoveler is native to Australia and New Zealand.
Did You Know?
The Māori name for this species is kuruwhengi.
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