Red shoveler (Argentine shoveler)

Spatula platalea (Anas platalea )

Rode slobeend (Argentijnse slobeend) / Argentinische Löffelente / Souchet d'Argentine

Spatula platalea (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Anas.

The red shoveler is a species of dabbling duck. It is found in southern South America, in Argentina, southern Peru, southern Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, southern Brazil, and Chile. In winter the southernmost birds migrate north to Brazil and Peru.

The red shoveler is cinnamon in color with dark spots, and a green speculum. The head and neck are grayish. They have a large dark spatula shaped bill.

This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern (IUCN, 2012).

More information: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22680240/0 

Taxonomy

Usually placed in Anas like most dabbling ducks, it stands well apart from such species as the mallard and together with the shovelers and their relatives forms a "blue-winged" group that may warrant separation as genus Spatula (del Hoyo and Collar 2014).

Above: adult pair of Red shovelers (female in front).

Above: adult drake Red shoveler.

Above: adult drake Red shoveler.

Above: adult drake Red shoveler.

Above: adult female red shoveler

Above: Shoveler ID chart, four species in one picture: (1) northern shoveler, (2) Australian shoveler, (3) Cape shoveler and (4) red shoveler.

Click to enlarge.