NORTHERN SHOVELER 

 ( Anas clypeata ) 



[DA: Skeand, DU: Slobeend; EN: Shoveler, FI: Lapasorsa , FR: Canard souchet, 

 Souchet ordinaire; GE: Loffelen, IC: Skeidond, IT: Mestolone, JA: Hashibiro- 

 gamo, NW: Skjeand, PO: Plaskonos, PR: Pato-trombeteiro , RU: (Broad-nosed Duck), 

 SP: Pato cuchara, Cuchareta; SW: Skedand] 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION 



The Northern Shoveler breeds in North America in shallow open marshes from 

 western Alaska and northwestern Mackenzie south to central California, Utah, 

 Nebraska, and eastern Manitoba (AOU 1957, Palmer 1976a). There are many records 

 of nesting beyond that general range that may represent former breeding popula- 

 tions or newly established ones. The average North American breeding population 

 is nearly 2 million birds, centered in the mixed prairie association of the Dak- 

 otas and the Canadian Prairie Provinces (Bellrose 1976). An Old World popula- 

 tion breeds from the British Isles across Europe to subarctic Asia (Cramp et al. 

 1977). 



In winter the Northern Shoveler occurs along the Pacific coast , through the 

 southern states, and along the Atlantic seaboard from Chesapeake Bay and North 

 Carolina's Currituck Sound southward (Map 17) into Mexico and the West Indies 

 (AOU 1957). They are locally common in the southeastern states in winter, but 

 are more abundant in fall and spring migrations. Large southeastern wintering 

 populations are found in Louisiana (235,000), South Carolina (15,000), and 

 coastal Texas (Bellrose 1976). Most wintering birds prefer fresh water (Johns- 

 gard 1975) but some are found in brackish lagoons and marshes subject to tidal 

 influence, where aquatic invertebrates are plentiful (Stewart 1962, Palmer 

 1976a). 



SUSCEPTIBILITY TO OIL POLLUTION 



Although Northern Shovelers have seldom been reported as victims in marine 

 oiling incidents (Joensen 1972b), they have suffered from oiling from inland 

 oil-sumps in Wyoming (King 1953). Northern Shovelers are not birds of open ma- 

 rine situations, and thus would not be vulnerable to most spills. Should oil 

 drift into shallow estuarine marsh areas, these birds might be vulnerable because 

 of their feeding methods. 



Taxonomic note: Until 1973 this species was regarded by the AOU as Spatula 

 clypeata . 



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