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Australasian Shoveler

(Anas rhynchotis)
Alternative names: "Blue-winged Shoveler", "Spoonbill-duck", "Stinker"
Size: 45-54 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

The range of the Australasian Shoveler comprises two main parts: A 100-200 km wide strip along the west coast of WA and the eastern part of the continent, including the south-eastern half of QLD, all of NSW and VIC and the eastern-most part of SA. They are found in Tasmania as well.

Australasian Shovelers are usually found in densely vegetated wetlands, such as swamps, lakes or ephemeral floodwaters. They also inhabit estuaries and tidal flats, with brackish to saline water.

Sightings

A male Australasian Shoveler was first spotted by us in July 2010 at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW. At the time there was no female bird in sight.

A female bird was spotted by us at Dangaars Lagoon, near Uralla, NSW, in January 2011.

Subsequently, a pair of birds was spotted by us at Lake Goran, an ephemeral lake about 30 km south of Gunnedah, NSW, in April 2011.

Photos

Lateral view of a male Australasian Shoveler

Lateral view of a female Australasian Shoveler

Pair of Australasian Shovelers at Goran Lake; female on the left, male bird on the right, here seen together with a few Grey Teals

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.