Australasian Shoveler

About the Australasian Shoveler

The Australasian shoveler is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It ranges from 46 to 53 cm. It lives in heavily vegetated swamps. In Australia it is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. They occur in southwestern and southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The male has a blue-grey head with a vertical white crescent in front of the eyes.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Australasian Shoveler lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium.

When to see the Australasian Shoveler

Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Cape ShovelerSpatula smithiiThe Cape shoveler or Cape shoveller is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Spatula. Silver TealSpatula versicolorThey have a black cap that extends below the eyes, and a bluish bill with a yellow tip. Red ShovelerSpatula plataleaThe species has a spatula-shaped bill, a green speculum, and light blue upper wing converts.