Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
The Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 163 countries, weighing about 613 g. The northern shoveler, often known simply as the shoveler where other related species do not occur, is a common and widespread duck.
About the Northern Shoveler
The northern shoveler, often known simply as the shoveler where other related species do not occur, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and throughout the Palearctic and across most of North America, and winters in southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It is a rare vagrant to Australia. In North America, it breeds along the southern edge of Hudson Bay and west of this body of water, and as far south as the Great Lakes west to Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This species is unmistakable in the Northern Hemisphere due to its large, spatulated bill. The breeding drake has an iridescent, dark green head, though less intensely iridescent than a drake mallard's head, and appears black at distance or in poor light, white breast, and chestnut belly and flanks, and a black or very dark grey bill. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border. In early autumn, the male has a white crescent on each side of the face.
What the Northern Shoveler sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Africa, Peru, Chile, Seychelles, Argentina, French Guiana, Niger, Montserrat, St. Barthélemy, Micronesia.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Northern Shoveler?
- This species is unmistakable in the Northern Hemisphere due to its large, spatulated bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Northern Shoveler?
- The Northern Shoveler is a large sized bird weighing about 613 g.
- Where can you see a Northern Shoveler?
- The Northern Shoveler occurs in 163 countries, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Spain.
- What does a Northern Shoveler sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Northern Shoveler on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Northern Shoveler?
- The Northern Shoveler is most easily confused with the Blue-winged Teal, the Cinnamon Teal and the Garganey.
- Is the Northern Shoveler endangered?
- The Northern Shoveler is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Northern Shoveler for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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