Northern Shoveler, female

The fringes on the edges of her beak (called “lamellae”) look like a comb and are used to filter food from water. Compare with, e.g., a merganser’s lamellae, harder and sharper like teeth so as to hold on to fishies. Similar structures, evolved into very different forms and functions!

   14 January 2023
   ILCE-7M3
   1/500s    f/8   560mm   ISO 640
Northern Shoveler, female