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Birds and Butterflies of Rhodes
RODOPTERA
Spatula clypeata
Northern shoveler (male). Greek: χουλιαρόπαπια (αρσενική). Gadouras reservoir, April 2022.
Passage migrant, rare. Length 46-50 cm, wingspan 75-80 cm. Male with dark green head, white breast and chestnut sides and belly, female light brown overall. Both sexes with large, spoon-shaped bill. Reservoirs, coastal lagoons, river mouths with reed beds. Feeds by dabbling and skimming, takes aquatic plants, plankton. Takes off by leaping straight up from water surface.
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