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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Northern Shoveler
(Anas clypeata) M, B |
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RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska to northern Manitoba, south
to northwestern and eastern , northern Utah, Colorado,
Nebraska, and Missouri, and central Wisconsin. Winters from the
coast of southern British Columbia to central Arizona east to
the Gulf Coast and South Carolina on the Atlantic Coast south to
South America.
STATUS: Fairly common; more abundant west of the Mississippi
River.
HABITAT: Prefers shallow prairie marshes, particularly those
with abundant plant and animal life floating on the surface, but
also occupies potholes, sloughs, and marshes in taiga, forests,
and (less commonly) cultivated country. It tolerates a wide
range of water conditions, from clean and clear to muddy;
flowing to stagnant; considerably alkaline, and even heavily
polluted. Likes to have mudbanks or low sloping shorelines with
short or flattened vegetation for loafing. Winters in freshwater
and brackish habitats.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Shallow waters with muddy bottoms,
surrounded by dry grassy areas for nesting. Strongest
nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.
NEST: Nests on dry ground in a slight hollow, preferably in
short grasses within 300 feet of water, but will nest in
hayfields, meadows, and rarely bulrushes if grasses are not
available. Seldom nests in weed patches, and avoids woody
vegetation such as willows.
FOOD: A filter feeder; prefers to feed in shallow waters, but
will actively feed in deep waters containing submergent and
surface vegetation. Consumes a considerable amount of
microscopic animal life such as ostracods, copepods, and similar
crustaceans, and macroscopic animal life as well. Eats
fingernail clams, mollusks, and insects for one quarter of the
diet. Also eats grasses, sedges, water lilies, pondweeds,
bulrush seeds, algae, and smartweeds.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, DeGraff et al.
1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Poston 1974,
Shunk 2004. |
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