Male Northern Shoveler With Non-breeding Plummage Swimming In A Large Pond In McInnish Park In Carrollton, Texas. Stock Image

Pictured is a male northern Shoveler with non-breeding plumage, binomial name Spatula clypeata, swimming near the edge of a large pond in McInnish Park in Carrollton, Texas. In non-breeding plumage, the drake resembles the female with mottled brown plumage. The northern shoveler is distinguished by the long broad bill. They swing the bill from side to side straining food from the water. Thus, mud-bottomed marshes rich in invertebrate life are their habitat of choice.