Winter Hours: Mon-Sat: 9-5 Sun: Closed
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Birds of the Panhandle
By Judy Jones
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Shoveler known to hunters as "spoony" is the second dabbler we will look at this month. A close look at the bill and their eating habits will soon tell how they got the moniker. The male has a dark green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks, the large spatulate bill makes both males and females easy to identify no matter what the season. The large bill is especially designed so the Shoveler can move its head back and forth in the water and obtain a carnivorous diet of aquatic invertebrates. The Shoveler has light-blue forewings and green speculum and is a beautiful to see in flight. A common winter bird here in the Texas Panhandle just look for the large bill and the unusual feeding pattern. Thompson Park and Southeast Park have some interesting birds during the winter months.
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