Bird’s ID – Northern Shoveler, Lifer # 236
The Northern Shoveler, (Spatula clypeata), known simply in Britain as the shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and across most of North America, wintering in southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Central, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It is a rare vagrant to Australia. In North America, it breeds along the southern edge of Hudson Bay and west of this body of water, and as far south as the Great Lakes west to Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon. Northern shovelers feed by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bill from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water.
The shoveler prefers to nest in grassy areas away from open water. Their nest is a shallow depression on the ground, lined with plant material and down. Hens typically lay about nine eggs. The drakes are very territorial during breeding season and will defend their territory and partners from competing males. Drakes also engage in elaborate courtship behaviors, both on the water and in the air; it is not uncommon for a dozen or more males to pursue a single hen. Despite their stout appearance, shovelers are nimble fliers
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© HJ Ruiz – Avian101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
That was an interesting post, HJ. It is quite a distinctive duck.
Thank you very much, Chris. 🙂
They are so photogenic..thanks for sharing this. Anita
Congrats on adding yet another new bird species to your list, H.J!
Thanks so much, D. 🙂