Red Shoveler
Spatula platalea
Class
Aves
Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Red Shoveler
Range
Southern half of South America
Size
Length: 18 - 22.4 in
Wingspan: 26 -29 in
Weight: 1 - 1.5 lbs
Habitat
Shallow lakes and pools with dense reed beds, marshes, and lagoons
Young
Clutch of 5 - 8 eggs
Incubation: About 25 days
Diet
Herbs, grasses, pond weeds, wigeon grass, eelgrass, and algae
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Red shovelers are usually found in pairs or small groups. Males are called drakes, females are hens, and young are ducklings. They build their nest on the ground, and 5 to 8 eggs are laid.
These ducks sift the surface of the water filtering out small animals and plants through their bill. They have tiny vertical slits known as lamellae along the upper and lower sides of the bill.