Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler: Medium dabbling duck. White breast, white-bordered black back, rufous-brown underparts and sides. Head and neck are iridescent green, large bill is black and eyes are yellow. Wings have large, pale blue shoulder patches, white bars, green speculum. Legs and feet are orange.
● Song:
"who, who, who", "took, took, took"
● Foraging & Feeding:
Northern Shoveler: Feeds on tiny crustaceans, mollusks, insects, seeds, fish, and aquatic vegetation; forages by dabbling in shallow water.
● Breeding & nesting:
Northern Shoveler: Six to nineteen olive buff or green gray eggs are laid in a down-lined cup of grass concealed in vegetation, often far from water. Incubation ranges from 21 to 27 days and is carried out by the female.
● Similar species:
Northern Shoveler: Mallard has smaller bill, and chestnut-brown breast, and lacks blue shoulder patch. Blue-winged Teal is smaller, has brown body and gray head, and white crescent on face.