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Australasian ShovelerAlternate name(s): "Australian Shoveler", "Blue-winged Shoveler", "Southern Shoveler", "Spoonbill-duck", "Stinker" ![]() Size: 45-54 cm Weight: 550-850 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "rhynchotis"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage;
note the broad bill for filter-feeding
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2020]
Close-up near-frontal view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage resting
with Eurasian Coots
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beardy Waters Dam, Glen Innes, NSW, July 2019]
Near-lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2019]
Close-up near-lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage
stretching a wing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beardy Waters Dam, Glen Innes, NSW, July 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beardy Waters Dam, Glen Innes, NSW, July 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage resting in
shallow water; note the charactristic orange legs
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, August 2015]
Lateral view of two male Australasian Shovelers in breeding
plumage, one of which
is showing its turquoise-green
speculum
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
Australasian Shovelers in breeding
plumage, one of
which is showing a turquoise
iridescence
on its head
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
Dorsal view of a male Australasian Shoveler in breeding
plumage
[Warialda, NSW, April 2014]
Male Australasian Shoveler feeding with its tail up; note the
characteristic brown-black appearance, with orange legs
[Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi, NSW, December 2013]
Size comparison of Australasian Shovelers with a
Great Cormorant
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2021]
Size comparison of a male Australasian Shoveler with an
Australian Pelican
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2021]
Size comparison of a male Australasian Shoveler with a
Pink-eared Duck
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
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NON-BREEDING |
Lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler moulting out of breeding
plumage - note the
faintness of the facial mask; the body is still in breeding colours
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a filter-feeding female Australasian Shoveler -
note the water being pressed out the sides of its bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
Near-lateral view of a female Australasian Shoveler with water
running out of its bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Shoveler
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2019]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Shoveler
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Shoveler with water
running out of its bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
Lateral view of a filter-feeding female Australasian Shoveler -
note the water being pressed out the of its bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Shoveler wading through
shallow water - note the bright orange legs and feet
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
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PAIR |
Frontal view of a pair of resting Australasian Shovelers
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2020]
Close-up lateral view of a pair of Australasian Shovelers
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, May 2023]
Lateral view of a pair of Australasian Shovelers
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of two Australasian Shovelers: sub-adult male on the left
and adult male on the right
[Warialda, NSW, April 2014]
Lateral view of an Australasian Shoveler duckling
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[10 km north of Collie, NSW, October 2020]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Vagrant/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair |
As filter-feeding birds taking microscopic particles out of water, Australasian Shovelers can regularly be found in eutrophic water, in particular in sewage treatment works.
Three Australasian Shovelers on a sewage treatment pond; from
left to right an adult male, a sub-adult male and a female
[Warialda, NSW, April 2014]
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Food, Diet |
Close-up lateral view of a filter-feeding male Australasian Shoveler
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler with a
plant filament stuck in its bill
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
Frontal view of a filter-feeding female Australasian Shoveler -
note the water being pressed out the sides of its bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
Lateral view of a filter-feeding female Australasian Shoveler -
note the water being pressed out the sides of its bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, June 2019]
One of three Australasian Shovelers on a
sewage treatment pond
seen filter-feeding
[Warialda, NSW, April 2014]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
ausshov_20151222.mp3 |
rhynchotis (NW NSW) |
Contact calls (male) | © MD |
More Australasian Shoveler sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.