Shovelers are characterised by their distinctive bill shapes, but recent taxonomic changes
have seen them in their own genus with the "blue-billed" teals and Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal, all of which have large bills. Found over
much of southern South America, this species is fairly common but prefers shallow lakes and lagoons in open areas, especially near the
coast of Argentina, brackish pools being a favourite. They are often found in small groups, and Northward dispersal takes them to Brazil, where
they may breed, but little is known except they are basically a resident species. Vagrants only have occurred on the Falklands, these birds
were taken on Tierra del Fuego.
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