Australasian shoveler
Scientific name: Spatula rhynchotis
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Compact dabbling duck with distinctive large, spatulate bill. Males display iridescent green head, white breast and neck, chestnut flanks; females are mottled brown overall. Sexual dimorphism pronounced in breeding plumage.
Size and weight
Males 48–52 cm, 600–750 g; females 43–48 cm, 500–650 g.
Habitat
Shallow freshwater wetlands, swamps, and open water bodies with emergent vegetation. Prefers inland lakes, marshes, and temporary pools across lowland to moderate elevations.
Distribution
Australia, Tasmania, and southern inland regions; nomadic and dispersive, moving between wetlands with seasonal water availability. Vagrant to New Zealand.
Diet
Primarily aquatic invertebrates (chironomid larvae, copepods, amphipods) and seeds; dabbles in shallow water and mud for food year-round.
Behaviour
Highly gregarious, forming flocks outside breeding season. Crepuscular feeder, most active at dawn and dusk. Dabbles in shallow water; strong, agile flier with characteristic whistling wing-beat.
Hunting tips
Glass water margins and shallow bays at first light for feeding birds. Look for tracks and dabble marks in soft mud near vegetation edges. Approach from downwind over open ground; birds flush readily, so use vegetation to mask approach and wait for feeding activity during low-light periods.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.