not a rock (biological/ornithological)

Northern Shoveler Duck (Note: This is a biological specimen, not a rock)

Spatula clypeata

Hardness: N/A; Color: Iridescent green head (male), white chest, rusty-brown flanks, large black shovel-shaped bill; Luster: Feathery/glossy; Structure: Vertebrate/Aves; Cleavage: N/A; Specific Gravity: Slightly less than water (buoyant)

Hardness: N/A
Luster: Feathery/glossy

Identified March 22, 2026More not a rock (biological/ornithological) →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Biological reproduction; widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere across North America and Eurasia. They inhabit shallow wetlands, marshes, and lagoons.

Uses & applications

Ecological role in seed dispersal and insect control; valued in birdwatching and wildlife photography; historical source of food and feathers.

Geological facts

Their large, shovel-shaped bill contains roughly 110 fine lamellae (comb-like structures) used to filter tiny crustaceans and seeds from the water. They are known to swim in circles to create miniature whirlpools that bring food to the surface.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the oversized, spatulate bill and distinctive color blocks in males. Commonly found in freshwater wetlands. Collectors (birdwatchers) look for them during migratory seasons in shallow muddy waters.

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Not a rock

Note: Item is not a geological specimen

Homo sapiens (Dermal Appendage: Pilus)

Organic / Biological

Undetermined Due to Blur (Possible Flesh-Tone Mineral)

Unknown (Insufficient Visual Clarity)

Mineral

Manganese Oxide Crust on Limestone

Manganese Oxides (e.g., Pyrolusite MnO2 or Romanechite) on CaCO3

sedimentary