Northern shoveler

    Anas clypeata

Castilian: Cuchara común

Catalan: Ànec cullerot

Gallego: Cullerete

Euskera: Ahate mokozabala

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Near Threatened”.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

listen song

THREATS

The alteration of wetlands due to the abuse of pesticides and fertilisers, agricultural intensification, and aquifer overexploitation are the main threats. It is also affected by hunting.

Length / size: 44-52 cm / 73-82 cm

Identification: Medium-sized bird; in this species, the spoon-shaped bill stands out, and that is where its name comes from. During mating season the male's chest is white, in contrast with his bright green neck and head; his flanks and belly are chestnut brown, he has a bright green speculum (visible during flight), and on his back the white and black scalpular feathers stand out. The female is distinguished from the rest because of the shape of her bill and her speculum, which is light green.

Song: The male makes a clattering "took took" sound, whereas the female makes a similar sound, but more muffled.

Diet: It feeds on plant matter and small organisms such as insects, larvae, crustaceans and mollusks. In shallow bodies of water, it filters water through its bill, moving it horizontally along the water's surface and sucking the silt to retain any possible organisms. In deeper waters, it tilts its body to remove vegetation from the depths.

Reproduction: To choose their mates, the males congregate and swim around the female until they are chosen. The female builds the nest with a large quantity of down on top of a mass of plant matter. The eggs hatch simultaneously and, after a few hours, the chicks follow the mother around in the water.

HABITAT

In winter it adapts to all types of environments, as long as there is abundant vegetation. But during breeding season, it prefers lakes or marshes with prairies or farmland nearby.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: In winter it is distributed throughout the Mediterranean region, the La Mancha wetlands, and the Guadalquivir marshes. However, in places in Extremadura, Andalusia and the north of the peninsula, it breeds in low quantities.

In Castile and León: In winter it appears in all the provinces, most notably in Villafáfila (Zamora), where it also appears during breeding season, in the La Nava lake (Palencia) and the Rosarito and Ebro swamps (Burgos), among other places.

Movements and migrations: The northern populations are migratory and winter in Atlantic and Mediterranean countries. Specimens from the coasts of the Baltic Sea, North Sea and central Europe reach the peninsula in September.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 100-200 breeding pairs; however, in winter up to 62000 specimens have been counted.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated average population of more than 1600 wintering specimens.