Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis)
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Australasian Shoveler

Spatula rhynchotis (Latham, 1801)

639 gWeight

The Australasian shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula.

Busiest months: January and October · Most records: Australia, New Zealand, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: January and October · Most records: Australia, New Zealand, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australasian Shoveler has been recorded at 244 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 6 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Western Treatment PlantAustralia6,655 records
  2. Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature ReserveAustralia5,590 records
  3. Herdsman LakeAustralia1,923 records
More places
  1. Goulds Lagoon Wildlife SanctuaryAustralia1,319 records
  2. Laratinga WetlandsAustralia1,199 records
  3. Western Treatment Plant – T Section PondsAustralia918 records
  4. Bibra LakeAustralia905 records
  5. Lake ElterwaterNew Zealand858 records
  6. Fyshwick Sewage Treatment PlantAustralia787 records
  7. Braeside ParkAustralia753 records

Countries and regions with the most records

AustraliaNew ZealandCocos (Keeling) IslandsUnited KingdomBelgiumVanuatu

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Australasian shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It ranges from 46 to 53 cm (18 to 21 in). It lives in heavily vegetated swamps.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Australasian Shoveler?

The Australasian Shoveler weighs around 639 g.

Where does the Australasian Shoveler live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: southern Australia, Tasmania and North and South Islands (New Zealand). It is most often recorded in Australia, New Zealand and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

When is the best time to see the Australasian Shoveler?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January and October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Australasian Shoveler endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Australasian Shoveler as Least Concern.

What does the Australasian Shoveler eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Australasian Shoveler in?

It belongs to the family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae), order Anseriformes.

At a glance

Weight
639 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
224 mm
Tail
71 mm
Bill
64 mm
Tarsus
31 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: southern Australia, Tasmania and North and South Islands (New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Ducks, Geese, Swans Anatidae
Genus
Spatula

Other birds in the genus Spatula

GarganeyGarganeySpatula querquedulaBlue-billed TealBlue-billed TealSpatula hottentotaPuna TealPuna TealSpatula punaSilver TealSilver TealSpatula versicolorRed ShovelerRed ShovelerSpatula plataleaCinnamon TealCinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraBlue-winged TealBlue-winged TealSpatula discorsCape ShovelerCape ShovelerSpatula smithiiNorthern ShovelerNorthern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWhite-faced Whistling DuckWhite-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduata
Australasian Shoveler

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Amaya M.. ↗

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