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Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

The Northern Shoveler is a colorful duck with a unique, wide bill that looks like a shovel! They love to swim in ponds and wetlands, where they filter food from the water.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Northern Shoveler is easily recognized by its distinctively large, spoon-shaped bill. Males boast an iridescent green head, a white chest, and chestnut-red sides, while females are a more subtle mottled brown. Both sexes have a bright blue patch on their wings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAnseriformesFamilyAnatidaeGenusSpatula
Northern Shoveler
Photo: Andreas TrepteCC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
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Northern Shoveler

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

14

Interesting facts

Northern Shovelers sometimes swim in circles to stir up tasty water bugs!

Their huge bill contains tiny comb-like filters called lamellae!

These ducks often dabble with their heads down, showing their rumps!

You might spot their bright blue wing patches when they fly away!

Special abilities

Ability

Sieve-Beak Power

Northern Shoveler has a unique, broad, spoon-shaped bill with special filters that helps them sieve tiny food from water.

Ability

Spinning Super-Feeder

Northern Shoveler can spin in circles in the water to create currents, concentrating food particles for easier filtering.

Ability

Long-Haul Flyer

Northern Shoveler can fly thousands of kilometers during migration, helping them find warm wintering grounds and abundant food.

Measurements & details

Length
43-56 cm
Wingspan
70-84 cm
Weight
0.4-0.8 kg
Lifespan
10-15 years
Speed
75 km/h
Clutch Size
8-12
Incubation
22-28 days
Migration Distance
4500 km

Diet & Feeding

These ducks filter tiny plants, seeds, and small critters from the water using their special bills.

Primary Foods

  • Plankton
  • Small crustaceans
  • Insect larvae
  • Seeds
  • Aquatic plants

Foraging Method

  • Filter feeding

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Adult shovelers can be prey for large raptors.

Eaten by

Coyote

Canis latrans

Coyotes often prey on eggs and ducklings in nests.

Depends on

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Cattails provide nesting cover and materials in marsh habitats.

Eats

Water Flea

Daphnia magna

Water fleas are a common zooplankton filtered by their bills.

Traits

Also known as

Shoveler

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch ducks from a distance and don't feed them bread.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Northern Shoveler?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Northern Shoveler?

43-56 cm

What is Northern Shoveler's wingspan?

70-84 cm

How much does Northern Shoveler weigh?

0.4-0.8 kg

How long does Northern Shoveler live?

10-15 years

How fast can Northern Shoveler move?

75 km/h

What does Northern Shoveler eat?

These ducks filter tiny plants, seeds, and small critters from the water using their special bills.

Where is Northern Shoveler usually found?

Wetlands

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