Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758)

		spring male summer plumage in flight
2013-04-20 Sorbulak lake, Almaty region 2011-07-16 Kanshengel, Taukum sands, Southern Trans-Balkhash area2006-04-13 Barbastau, Terekti region, West Kazakhstan oblast	© Vassiliy Fedorenko © Gennadiy Dyakin© Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Widespread on breeding in plains of Kazakhstan, except Mangyshlak and Ustyurt. Occurs in Southern Altai (Markakol lake). Seen everywhere on migration. Very rarely wintering south of Shymkent, near confluence of Keles and Syrdarya rivers. On Sorbulak lake 15 birds recorded 1 December 2002.

Biology

Common, locally abundant breeding migrant. Inhabits plain and mountain lakes and rivers with reed and reed mace beds, up to 1500 m in Altai and 2000 m in Tien Shan. Appears some later (some 10-15 days), than Mallards and Pintails, in early March or April. Migrates in small independent flocks, rarely with other ducks, and by mid-May migration is over. Nest is built under cover of grass or bush, in colonies with gulls and terns often for protection from predators, not far from water, on ground in shallow hollow lined with dry grass and down. Clutches of 7-11 eggs at end May – early July. Juveniles hatch early June – end July, and begin to fly from mid-July to mid-August. Loss of clutches after predation are often, therefore re-nesting is common. After females begin incubation, males gather in flocks up to a thousand and fly to moult (end May – July) in shallow steppe and desert lakes with reed-beds and other rich vegetation (Naurzum, lower Turgay, Kurgaldzhin). Autumn migration begins mid-September and continues until mid – end October.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.