Parasitism of a Blue-winged Teal Nest by a Northern Shoveler in South Dakota

Nest parasitism in dabbling ducks is uncommon. Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) are considered infrequent parasites and Blue-winged Teal (A. discors) are rarely hosts to nest parasitism. We documented parasitism of a Blue-winged Teal nest by a Northern Shoveler. We reviewed 3,003 records from nests located in 1994 to 1997 in North Dakota and documented only one duck nest parasitized by a Northern Shoveler. Only nine of 1,494 Blue-winged Teal nests were parasitized. We found no evidence of Northern Shovelers parasitizing Blue-winged Teal nests in our nest records and only one account in the literature.