Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

With its oversized, spoon-shaped bill, this dabbling duck sifts through shallow waters for tasty morsels across wetlands worldwide.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Northern Shoveler is easily recognised by its large, spatula-shaped bill. Males in breeding plumage have a striking green head, white breast, and chestnut flanks. Their back is dark, and they display a blue patch on the forewing.

Females are mottled brown with a blue speculum. Their bill and feet are yellowish-orange, and their eyes are brown or brownish-yellow.

In eclipse plumage, males resemble females but retain their distinctive bill shape and brighter blue wing patches as well as having darker heads.

Size

Length

44cm to 51cm

Wingspan

70cm to 84cm

Weight

400g to 1000g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Green Brown White

Secondary Colour

Blue Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Orange

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Orange Yellow

Leg Colour (Female)

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Northern Shoveler can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Northern Shoveler can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Northern Shoveler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Northern Shovelers inhabit shallow wetlands, marshes, and ponds across North America, Europe, and Asia. They prefer freshwater habitats but can also be found in brackish areas.

During the breeding season, they occupy northern latitudes while wintering in southern regions.

In the UK, they are year-round residents, with numbers boosted by winter migrants from northern Europe.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Northern Shoveler. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad China Colombia Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gambia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hungary India Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Macedonia Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mexico Moldova Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Myanmar Nepal Netherlands Nicaragua Nigeria North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russia Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The United Kingdom Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Turks and Caicos Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Algeria Belarus Georgia Iceland Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Luxembourg Mongolia Russia Turkmenistan United States of America Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Afghanistan Armenia Bahrain Belize Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Costa Rica Cyprus Guadeloupe Guam Hong Kong Marshall Islands Micronesia Niger Northern Mariana Islands Palestine Qatar South Sudan Spain Togo Tunisia United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Australia Bermuda Botswana British Virgin Islands Brunei Cameroon Ecuador Faroe Islands French Polynesia Greenland Guinea Jamaica Malawi Mozambique Namibia New Zealand Rwanda Saint Pierre and Miquelon Seychelles South Africa Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands US Virgin Islands Venezuela Zimbabwe

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Northern Shovelers are highly agile birds, particularly in flight. They're capable of swift, nimble movements in the air and can manoeuvre deftly when taking off or landing on water. Their ability to perform intricate feeding behaviours, such as swimming in tight circles to create vortexes, also demonstrates considerable agility.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong compared to larger waterfowl, Northern Shovelers possess moderate strength. Their ability to migrate long distances and their robust build for their size contribute to this rating. However, their specialisation in filter-feeding rather than diving or wrestling with prey suggests they don't rely heavily on brute strength.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Northern Shovelers show high adaptability. They can thrive in various wetland habitats, from freshwater to brackish areas, and at elevations up to 2000 metres. Their ability to adjust their diet based on available food sources and their successful colonisation of diverse geographical regions across multiple continents demonstrate significant adaptability.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Northern Shovelers are generally not highly aggressive birds. They form loose flocks and are relatively quiet. However, males can become territorial during breeding season and engage in courtship displays, which may involve some aggressive behaviours. Overall, they tend to be more peaceful compared to many other duck species.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

These birds exhibit good endurance, particularly evident in their long-distance migratory habits. Their ability to fly between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas requires considerable stamina. Additionally, their constant filter-feeding behaviour, which can involve processing up to 10,000 tiny invertebrates per day, suggests a high level of sustained energy output.

Diet

Northern Shovelers primarily feed on aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant matter. Their specialised bill allows them to strain food from the water, often swimming in tight circles to create a vortex that concentrates prey. They also dabble and occasionally upend to reach submerged vegetation.

Water beetles, minnows, and snails are also commonly eaten.

Behaviour

Northern Shovelers often swim with their bills submerged, filtering water for food. They form loose flocks during migration and winter.

These ducks are generally quiet but can be territorial during breeding season, with males performing elaborate courtship displays.

Vocalisation

Northern Shovelers are relatively quiet ducks. Males produce a soft, rattling 'took-took' call, while females have a typical duck-like quack, though softer than that of a Mallard. During courtship, males may emit a low 'woh-woh' sound.

On take-off, a shoveler’s wings can be heard making a distinctive ‘rattling’ sound, unlike any other duck species.

Nesting & Breeding

Northern Shovelers form pairs during late winter or early spring. Males court females with head-bobbing displays and vocalisation.

Nests are built on the ground, often concealed in dense vegetation near water. Females lay 8-12 pale olive-buff eggs and line the nest with down.

Incubation lasts about 23-25 days, carried out solely by the female. Ducklings are precocial and can feed themselves shortly after hatching, fledging at 6-7 weeks old.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Northern Shovelers face threats from wetland habitat loss and degradation.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring wetland ecosystems, which benefit this species along with many other waterfowl.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

6,500,000 - 7,000,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for their distinctive, oversized bill
Search in shallow wetlands and marshes
Listen for soft quacking sounds
Observe their unique feeding behaviour of skimming the water's surface
In the UK, visit coastal areas and inland wetlands during winter months

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Shoveler

Family:

Anatidae

Average Lifespan

3 years

Max Lifespan

22 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include foxes, raccoons, large birds of prey, and snapping turtles, particularly targeting eggs and ducklings.

Did You Know?

The Northern Shoveler's bill has about 110 fine projections (called lamellae) along its edges for filtering food.
They can consume up to 10,000 tiny invertebrates per day.
Despite their large bills, Northern Shovelers are excellent flyers, capable of swift, agile flight.

FAQs

Is a northern shoveler a diving duck?

Northern shovelers are dabbling ducks, not diving ducks. They get their food from the water’s surface rather than diving deep underwater.

Why do northern shovelers swim in circles?

Swimming in circles is a foraging tactic commonly used by northern shovelers to stir up aquatic invertebrates living in the muddy pond or lake bottom, with the circular movement of the water stirring them up and causing them to rise to the surface, making foraging easier.

References

1
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Spatula clypeata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22680247A153875944.
View source
2 3 4
report, 2015: Wetlands International

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