Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Northern Shoveler is a duck that filters food from shallow water with its broad, spoon-shaped bill. Breeding males have a green head, white chest, and rusty sides, while females are mottled brown.

Appearance

Appearance: It is about 17–20 in (43–51 cm) long. Both sexes have a very broad bill; the male has a green head and bold white and rusty body, while the female is mottled brown.
Seasonal forms: After breeding, males replace their feathers with duller brown ones that look more like the female's.

Look-alikes

Blue-winged TealSpatula discors

A female Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) is smaller and has a short, dark bill. A female Northern Shoveler has an oversized orange bill.

Why they get mixed upThe mottled-brown females can both show pale blue on the upperwing.

Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera

A female Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) is smaller, with a short dark bill; a female Northern Shoveler has a much larger orange bill. A male Cinnamon Teal lacks the shoveler’s white chest.

Why they get mixed upBoth can show blue on the upperwing and brownish females.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: shallow marshes
ponds and lakes
flooded fields
Range: It breeds across much of Alaska, Canada, and the northern and western United States, then winters through much of the southern United States and farther south.
Seasonal presence: It is mainly a migrant or winter visitor across much of the United States.
Preferred conditions: It favors shallow water with plenty of tiny aquatic food and often gathers on wildlife refuges from August through April.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Dec–Mar
Present Aug–Apr
43,358 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: Its bill has comb-like that strain tiny , other , seeds, and plant material from the water.
Activity: This often swims in tight circles with other shovelers, stirring food upward before filtering it.

Life cycle

Breeding season: Breeding takes place in spring and summer across northern and western North America.
Nest: The female makes a shallow ground nest, usually within 150 ft (46 m) of water, and lines it with vegetation and down.
Clutch size: 8–12 eggs
Incubation: The female keeps the eggs warm for about 22–25 days.

Name and classification

About the name: It was formerly called Anas clypeata.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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