The Australasian shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It ranges from 46 to 53 cm. It lives in heavily vegetated swamps. In Australia it is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974. They occur in southwestern and southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.[2] The male has a blue-grey head with a vertical white crescent in front of the eyes.
The common name for the species Spatula rhynchotis is Australasian shoveler no matter which country it is found in. It was previously categorised as two subspecies:
S. rhynchotis rhynchotisAustralian shoveler, the nominate race, occurs in southwestern and southeastern Australia and Tasmania.[2]
S. rhynchotis variegataNew Zealand shoveler, occurs in New Zealand.[2]
Other names used include: spoonbill, shoveler, spoony, spoonie and shoveller.[3] The Māori name of kuruwhengi is still valid.
The Australasian shoveler was described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801.[4]
Courtship and breeding in New Zealand
Courtship in New Zealand starts around August which involves vocalisations from the drake (male) accompanied with head-bobbing whilst swimming toward the duck (female). The most heard vocalisations are from the drakes in the form of a "Sock, sock-sock, sock, sock-sock". Often several drakes will pursue an already paired duck: Generally the mated males are aggressive and will not tolerate this behavior from the bachelors, and fighting may ensue. Courtship flights are common in the morning and evenings mostly, where the duck is followed in a short rapid flight by one or more (usually two) drakes. This tests the speed and agility of the drakes. The duck may be biased in picking the 'winner' in these tests however, especially if she has paired with one of the competitors. She will even sometimes excrete mid-flight on a pursuing male if he is especially not to her fancy. There is a clear and unexplained sex ratio difference with a lot more males to females. This difference is not present in broods of ducklings however. Males with a lot of white breast feathers are not usually paired. These white feathers are often a sign of an older shoveler as first year males almost never have them. Mating will occur as early as August, though nesting rarely happens until at least October.[5]
^BirdLife International (2016). "Spatula rhynchotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680243A92852551. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680243A92852551.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^"Australasian shoveler". New Zealand Birds Online. 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
^Latham, John (1801). Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae (in Latin). London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. lxx.
^J. J. Holland. New Zealand Shoveler Observations. 2009
References
Clements, James, (2007) The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World, Cornell University Press, Ithaca
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spatula rhynchotis.
Wikispecies has information related to Anas rhynchotis.
August 24, 2023
australasian, shoveler, spatula, rhynchotis, species, dabbling, duck, genus, spatula, ranges, from, lives, heavily, vegetated, swamps, australia, protected, under, national, parks, wildlife, 1974, they, occur, southwestern, southeastern, australia, tasmania, z. The Australasian shoveler Spatula rhynchotis is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula It ranges from 46 to 53 cm It lives in heavily vegetated swamps In Australia it is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 They occur in southwestern and southeastern Australia Tasmania and New Zealand 2 The male has a blue grey head with a vertical white crescent in front of the eyes Australasian shovelerMaleFemaleConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AnseriformesFamily AnatidaeGenus SpatulaSpecies S rhynchotisBinomial nameSpatula rhynchotis Latham 1801 SubspeciesS r rhynchotis Latham 1801 Australian shoveler S r variegata Gould 1856 New Zealand shoveler SynonymsAnas rhynchotis Latham 1801 Contents 1 Naming 2 Courtship and breeding in New Zealand 3 Gallery 4 Footnotes 5 ReferencesNaming EditThe common name for the species Spatula rhynchotis is Australasian shoveler no matter which country it is found in It was previously categorised as two subspecies S rhynchotis rhynchotis Australian shoveler the nominate race occurs in southwestern and southeastern Australia and Tasmania 2 S rhynchotis variegata New Zealand shoveler occurs in New Zealand 2 Other names used include spoonbill shoveler spoony spoonie and shoveller 3 The Maori name of kuruwhengi is still valid The Australasian shoveler was described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 4 Courtship and breeding in New Zealand EditCourtship in New Zealand starts around August which involves vocalisations from the drake male accompanied with head bobbing whilst swimming toward the duck female The most heard vocalisations are from the drakes in the form of a Sock sock sock sock sock sock Often several drakes will pursue an already paired duck Generally the mated males are aggressive and will not tolerate this behavior from the bachelors and fighting may ensue Courtship flights are common in the morning and evenings mostly where the duck is followed in a short rapid flight by one or more usually two drakes This tests the speed and agility of the drakes The duck may be biased in picking the winner in these tests however especially if she has paired with one of the competitors She will even sometimes excrete mid flight on a pursuing male if he is especially not to her fancy There is a clear and unexplained sex ratio difference with a lot more males to females This difference is not present in broods of ducklings however Males with a lot of white breast feathers are not usually paired These white feathers are often a sign of an older shoveler as first year males almost never have them Mating will occur as early as August though nesting rarely happens until at least October 5 Gallery Edit Female adult at Lake Monger Female Scotland Heights Waterfowl Park Male adult at Lake Monger Male Scotland Heights Waterfowl ParkFootnotes Edit BirdLife International 2016 Spatula rhynchotis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22680243A92852551 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22680243A92852551 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 a b c Clements J 2007 Australasian shoveler New Zealand Birds Online 2013 Retrieved 21 October 2014 Latham John 1801 Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae in Latin London Leigh amp Sotheby p lxx J J Holland New Zealand Shoveler Observations 2009References EditClements James 2007 The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World Cornell University Press Ithaca Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spatula rhynchotis Wikispecies has information related to Anas rhynchotis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Australasian shoveler amp oldid 1121214853, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
