Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata is a common winter visitor to western Washington, with some birds breeding in this area. They are essentially unmistakable if you get a look at the bill.
The female is pretty non-descript as far as feather plumage, but just look at that bill. The bill is used to strain food from the water. This species eats both small swimming invertebrates, seeds and plants.
One really interesting behavior of this species is that in winter and spring large flocks gather and swim in a whirlpool like formation, circling together in a strange group formation.
The breeding season for most ducks has passed, so we are starting to see our winter visitors returning, and our wetlands and ponds are filling up with ducks again after they were absent for most of the summer.
Good birding!
