# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Shoveler ![Northern Shoveler](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Northern_Shoveler-Anas_clypeata_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northern_Shoveler-Anas_clypeata_female.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Spatula ## 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 - **Sieve-Beak Power:** Northern Shoveler has a unique, broad, spoon-shaped bill with special filters that helps them sieve tiny food from water. - **Spinning Super-Feeder:** Northern Shoveler can spin in circles in the water to create currents, concentrating food particles for easier filtering. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adult shovelers can be prey for large raptors. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## 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 ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Eden Landing Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eden-landing-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Grist Mill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grist-mill-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Kirk Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kirk-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [McClellan Creek National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcclellan-creek-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park - [Williamsburg Manor Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/williamsburg-manor-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Northern Shoveler](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-shoveler) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Northern Shoveler: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-shoveler)