Photo: Nicholasbarbieri23 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red Shoveler
Spatula platalea
Red Shoveler (Spatula platalea) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red Shoveler (Spatula platalea) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 465 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Spatula
- Species platalea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 465 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red Shoveler feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Red Shoveler is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red Shoveler (Spatula platalea) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Peru, c Chile and s Brazil to Tierra del Fuego.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 465 g, with a wing length of about 21 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.9 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red Shoveler?
The Red Shoveler is a large bird that weighs around 465 g.
Where does the Red Shoveler live?
The Red Shoveler is found across South America with a range covering SA s Peru, c Chile and s Brazil to Tierra del Fuego, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red Shoveler belong to?
The Red Shoveler (Spatula platalea) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Red Shoveler eat?
The Red Shoveler feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Red Shoveler migrate?
The Red Shoveler is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red Shoveler endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Red Shoveler's range?
The Red Shoveler has a mapped global range of about 2.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Anatidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Waterbirds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern