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#54 - The Northern Shoveler
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The Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, is a medium-sized dabbling
duck
with a distinctive very long bill which is wider at the tip than the base.
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The handsome male Northern Shoveler has a beautiful iridescent green head, yellow eyes, black back, white chest and chestnut-brown belly and flanks. The Northern Shoveler inhabits wetlands across most of North America. It is about 19 in/48 cm long and has a wingspan of 30 in/76 cm. |
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The spoon-shaped bill of the Northern Shoveler is about 2.5 in/6.5 cm long. It has an interesting adaptation with over 100 comb like projections along the edges. These projections are called lamellae and are used to strain food from the water. Unlike other dabbling ducks which tip their heads and upper body into the water to feed, the Northern Shoveler forages simply by swimming along with its bill in the water, straining out small invertebrates. In very shallow water the shoveler will stir up the bottom to bring food up to the surface. |
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The female Northern Shoveler is brownish-gray all over. Juveniles (above) are like females, but have gray on the bill and dark eyes.
The Northern Shoveler's nest is a shallow depression in the ground lined with down and plant material. The nest is built away from the open water in a grassy area.
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