Scientific name: Anas smithii
This species has a large spatulate bill. Adults have speckled grey-brown plumage and dull orange legs. As with many southern hemisphere ducks, the sexes appear similar, but the male has a paler head than the female, a pale blue forewing separated from the green speculum by a white border, and yellow eyes. The female's forewing is grey.
The Cape shoveller is found manly in South Africa, where it is particularly common in the Western Cape and Kruger National Park.Generally prefers shallow, plankton-rich freshwater wetlands, such as tidal estuaries, saline lagoons and saltpans. It is also very common in sewage pans, such as the Strandfontein Sewage Works.
It mainly feeds on animals, although it varies greatly between different individuals. It usually feeds by filtering water while swimming, although it also upends and dabbles.
