The Shoveller 



much broader at tip than lower and enclosing it; lamella prominent, deep black; feet 

 orange-red; iris brown. Adult female: Wings much as in male, but duller; scapulars 

 like back, and tertiaries not striped; upperparts, except head and neck, plain fuscous 

 glossed posteriorly with greenish; remaining plumage buffy or buffy white, spotted with 

 brownish fuscous; head and neck narrowly streaked with dusky; lower breast tinged 

 with brownish. Bill brown above, orange below. Young male: Like adult female 

 but colors heavier, and belly tinged with chestnut. Young female: Similar to adult 

 but wing-coverts dull slaty gray, only faintly tinged with bluish or greenish; speculum 

 not so extensively glossy green. Length 431.8-533.4 (17.00-21.00); wing 228.6-254 

 (9.00-10.00); tail 76.2-88.9 (3.00-3.50); culmen 63.5-73.7 (2.50-2.90); breadth of bill 

 near tip 30.5 (1.20); tarsus 38.1 (1.50). 



Recognition Marks. — Smaller than Mallard; bill broadened at tip distinctive; 

 male with white breast and rich chestnut belly. 



Nesting. — Nest: On the ground in meadow or near marsh, lined with weed- 

 stalks and grasses, or broken reeds and down. Down: Dark mouse-gray or dusky, 

 with whitish centers. Eggs: 6 to 10; light greenish gray (yellowish glaucous). Av. 

 size 53.9 x 37.6 (2.12 x 1.48). Season: May-June; one brood. 



General Range. — Northern Hemisphere, breeding north to about Latitude 

 68°; south in winter to central Africa, Ceylon, Formosa, and Colombia. In America, 

 breeds chiefly westerly from northwestern Alaska, northwestern Mackenzie, and south- 

 ern Keewatin, south to southern California, central New Mexico, northern Texas, 

 Missouri, and northern Indiana. Winters from British Columbia, Arizona, New 

 Mexico, southern Illinois, and Delaware, south to the West Indies, Colombia, and 

 Hawaii. 



Distribution in California. — Abundant winter resident, chiefly on fresh water 

 throughout the State, lingering late into spring. Breeds sparingly at widely separated 

 localities, in Los Angeles, Kings, Fresno, Merced, Alameda, and Solano counties 

 (Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer). Also Inyo and Modoc counties. 



Authorities. — Gambel, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, i., 1849, p. 226 

 (Calif.) ; Emerson, Condor, vol. iii., 1901, p. 116 (Alameda Co.; desc. nest and eggs); 

 Goldman, Condor, vol. x., 1908, p. 202 (Tulare Lake, breeding); McAtee, Auk, vol. 

 xxxix., 1922, p. 380 (food; habits). 



ONE GLANCE at the long, broadly spatulate bill of the "Spoon- 

 bill," or Shoveller, is quite sufficient to establish the bird's identity in the 

 mind of any one who has ever even heard one of its names. This huge 

 bill not only gives its owner a top-heavy appearance, but gives the 

 impression of a larger bird than the measurements warrant. The bird 

 is rather less of a vegetarian than most of its kind. It eschews grain, 

 and is not so partial to water-cresses and succulent browse as are Mallards 

 and Widgeon. The roots of aquatic plants are eaten, but insects, tad- 

 poles, snails, and small fish are a preferred diet. Much of the bird's 

 food is secured in the shallow water or mud, which is scooped up liberally 

 and sifted through the lamellae of the beak until only edible portions are 

 retained. In spite of this diet, the Shoveller's flesh is seldom or never 

 "fishy," and so far as flavor is concerned, it makes a welcome addition 

 to the table. 



1779 



