No, this is not a commentary on overindulgence during the holidays. Instead it is a response to one viewer’s comments on a recent posting that showed a pair of foraging Northern Shovelers with their heads almost buried in the weeds. The viewer preferred one photo over the other simply because it showed this bird’s unusual bill.
On Monday, a day that was sunny, cold, and windy, I observed another pair of Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) and took some shots that show their bills in all of their oversized glory.
I can still remember my surprise at the length of the bills when I saw these birds for the first time. Initially I thought it was an optical illusion, but it became clear pretty quickly that the bill was unusually long. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Northern Shoveler’s bill has has about 110 fine projections (called lamellae) along the edges that help in straining food from water.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
They do have longer than normal bills, they look like they don’t fit on the face right. Great shots Mike.
It’s the Jimmy Durante of the waterfowl world. Funny how they evolved with such big bills and others didn’t, even though they feed in the same areas.
There have been numerous times when I have been birding, and it was rainy and dark and the birds were all silhouettes. But the Shoveler silhouette could still be identified, due to that lovely bill. Great post, Michael, and wonderful photos.
Thanks. There are only a few birds that I can identify by their silhouettes, but these are one of them. Thanks for your constant encouragement.
The humor is appreciated, but as always I love the photos. I would add that I get so much from the comments left by those who follow your blog. You have developed such a wonderful community.
Thanks, Charlie. There is a wonderful group of folks who for various reasons have chosen to follow my postings. It’s nice to have the support and encouragement of folks like you.
They must have strong necks 🙂