Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Spatula
Conservation status: least_concern
This duck is unmistakable in the Northern Hemisphere because of its large, spatulated bill. It feeds by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bills from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water.
How To Identify
These medium-sized ducks sport mottled grey and brown plumage, but they are instantly recognizable by their exceptionally wide, spatulate (spade-like) bill.
Habitat
It inhabits shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, marshes, and prairie ponds across the Northern Hemisphere, preferring areas with emergent vegetation.
Behaviour
Northern Shovelers are highly specialized dabbling ducks that filter-feed by skimming vegetation and mud from the water's surface using their unique bill structure.
Native Range
The Northern Shoveler is native to northern areas of Europe and throughout the Palearctic and across most of North America.
Did You Know?
The Northern Shoveler's spatula-shaped bill contains sensitive lamellae that act like a sieve, allowing it to filter-feed on tiny aquatic organisms while swimming. Males perform an elaborate courtship display involving head-throws and body-jerking to attract females.
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