Australasian Shoveler

The Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Anas. It ranges from 46–53 cm. It lives in heavily vegetated swamps. In Australia it is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974. They occur in southwestern and southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand[2].

The male has a blue-grey head with a vertical white crescent in front of the eyes.

The Australasian Shoveler has two subspecies:

A. rhynchotis rhynchotis Australian Shoveler, the nominate race, occurs in southwestern and southeastern Australia and Tasmania[2].
A. rhynchotis variegata New Zealand Shoveler, occurs in New Zealand[2].
The status of the Australasian Shoveler is Least Concern[1].