Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
Northern Shoveler, Male - Anas clypeata
General Description
The information for this species is not complete. We hope to have it available soon.
Distribution
Montana Range
Migration
In Bozeman the spring peak in numbers was reached on May 1; the fall peak October 10 or early September (statewide). April 4 to May 25 and September 5 to November 5 is the normal migration period.
Habitat
Comments on habitat can be found in Holm 1984. In the Bozeman area, summer birds prefer the marshy borders of lakes and ponds; migrants are more widely distributed (Skaar 1969).
Ecology
At Freezeout Lake, birds nesting in grasslands are more successful (16.6%) than in all other habitat types (average of all types is 9.1%). The major cause of unsuccessful nests is skunk predation.
Reproductive Characteristics
Brood size averages 7.3 in rest-rotation grazing pastures in north-central Montana. Breeding has been recorded from mid-April to July 25. Young were observed in the Bozeman area on June 25. At Freezeout Lake hatching occurs from May 21 to July 20 (average 9.1% success rate). The average clutch size is 9.5. Hatching dates are from May 10 to July 31.