Habitat
Shallow freshwater and brackish habitats, such as lakes, marshes and temporary flooded areas. Also, sewage ponds, tidal estuaries, saline lagoons and salt-pans. It generally avoids deep lakes, fast-flowing rivers, farm dams and reservoirs except as temporary refuges.
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Vagrant to Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Swaziland.
South Africa north to Namibia and Botswana.
Population
Estimated population is 20,000 - 50,000 (2010).
Status LC
Reduction of suitable ephemeral wetland habitats, and hybridisation with invasive Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) are the main threats.. The species is also susceptible to avian botulism, so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the disease. Hunting has the potential to become a threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Omnivorous. Stems and seeds of water plants, snails, insects, molluscs, crustaceans and amphibian larvae. It has a preference for animal matter.
Voice
Male utters a 'cawick', female utters a Mallard-like 'quack'.
Cape Shoveler (Spatula smithii) [XC83160]
by David Winter from East side of Swartvlei, Southern Cape, South Africa (alarm call)
Cape Shoveler (Spatula) [XC270217]
by Lynette Rudman from East London (near Zwelitsha), Amatole, Eastern Cape, South Africa (call)
Nest
A shallow scrape in earth, often with sides and a canopy built up from vegetation, and it is generally positioned near the waters edge. As single pairs or loose groups but may crowd together where suitable nesting sites are scarce.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet