Shoveler Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Shoveler ducks are found in many places throughout the world. They are known to breed in the UK, Europe, North America, Africa, China, India, Japan and Mexico.
They are a fairly peaceful bird until they feel threatened or during the breeding season, at which point they become very aggressive. They can often be observed posturing and fighting with other birds over their mate or nesting locations.
Keep reading to find out more about these interesting ducks.
Table of Contents
The Dietary Habits Of The Shoveler
Let’s start by looking into the dietary habits of the shoveler duck. Starting with what they eat and what they feed their chicks.
What Does A Shoveler Eat?
Shovelers feed by drawing water into their large spoon shaped bill and then pumping it through their comb-like teeth to filter the food. The water is then pumped out through the sides using their tongue.
The particles that are trapped in their bill are their primary food sources and consist of small crustaceans, insects, molluscs, insect larvae, seeds and leaves. They will also eat water beetles, small fish and snails.
What To Feed A Baby Shoveler?
As the chicks are born precocial, they are able to follow their parents to the water a few hours after hatching. Which means the chicks learn almost immediately how to find food and what to eat.
The chicks stay with the parents for around 40 to 45 days before learning to fly and leaving the breeding grounds.
Breeding Habits Of Shovelers
Now let’s look into the breeding habits of shoveler ducks. Shovelers typically breed between the months of April to June whenever the weather is good enough.
They make scrape nests on dry land close to fresh water and the nests are lined with grass or other plant material and soft, downy feathers. The nest is built by the female who will lay anywhere between 8 to 12 eggs and incubate them herself.
The drake (male bird) will typically position himself on the water close to the nest site watching out for any intruders or predators.
Do Shovelers Mate For Life?
Shovelers tend to stay together during the breeding season although the male will occasionally mate with another female. Once the breeding season is over, males flock together in small groups before moulting.
During this moulting or eclipse phase, the males are unable to fly as they lose all of their feathers. At this time the males tend to hide in vegetation especially during the hours of darkness in order to elude any would-be predators.
The Size & Weight Of Shovelers
Now let’s take a look at the average size and weight of shoveler ducks.
How Much Does A Shoveler Weigh?
Shoveler ducks can weigh anywhere between 400 to 1000g with the males typically larger than the females.
For comparison, a regular can of baked beans or tinned tomatoes weighs 400g and a bag of sugar weighs 1000 g (1 kg).
How Big Is A Shoveler?
The average length of a shoveler duck is around 44 to 52 cm which is very similar to the length of the Wigeon. Shoveler ducks have a wingspan of between 70 to 84 cm.
Which is also very similar to that of the wigeon. In fact, the size and weight of shovelers is almost identical to that of the wigeon. This can make identifying these two ducks very difficult when they’re both in eclipse plumage.
Are Shovelers Under Threat?
Shovelers used to be a common sight in the UK and are still relatively common. However, they are under threat due to the loss of their preferred habitat.
Shovelers are currently classified as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern, the Red List for Birds (2021) in the UK. They are also protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
However, worldwide, the shoveler is considered to be of “least concern”
What Eats A Shoveler?
Shovelers become prey to similar predators to all waterfowl namely; foxes, weasels, stoats, cats, birds of prey like hawks and owls, and the eggs and chicks can get taken by rats and voles.
Adult male shovelers are most vulnerable during the moult when they lose the ability to fly after losing their flight feathers. During this time they hide by blending into the plants around their habitat as the dark feathers or “eclipse” plumage as it is called camouflages them.
Where Can I See Shovelers In The UK?
Shovelers breed in the UK in areas of south and east England especially round the North Kent marshes, the Wash in Norfolk and on Humberside.
There are smaller groups of shovelers breeding in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the west of England. During winter, their numbers swell as many shovelers fly in from mainland Europe to overwinter in the slightly warmer climes of Great Britain.
During winter shoveler ducks can be found in many parts of the UK, with around 40% of the European population of shovelers overwintering in the UK. Which means that if you’re in the right place at the right time, it’s possible to see shovelers in the UK from January to December.
SEE ALSO: Aquatic Warbler Life Cycle: From Nest Building to Flight
Frequently Asked Questions
Shovelers do migrate to warmer areas during winter time. However as many migrate to the UK from colder parts of Europe, there is never a month when shovelers can’t be seen in the UK.
Shoveler ducks build scrape nests on dry land close to fresh water. The nests are lined with plant material, grass and soft downy feathers.
Female shovelers lay anywhere between 8 to 12 eggs and incubate them on their own with the male standing guard nearby on the lookout for any intruders.
