Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Genus · Shovelers and Allies Family · Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Lake wetlandsRiverWater edges

Look for the 'front-heavy' silhouette in flight. Even from a distance, the massive bill makes the head look disproportionately large.

Northern Shoveler

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan70–85 cm
Weight400–1100 g
Length43–56 cm
Lifespan wild10–18 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeScrape
Clutch size8–12 eggs
Incubation22–25 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationMigratory
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Filter feeder

🦀Crustaceans
🦗Insects
🐚Mollusks
🌊Plankton
🍃Plants

Habitat

🚜 Farmland🛶 Lake wetlands🌊 Marine🌾 Marsh
✦ Fun Fact

The Shoveler's bill contains hundreds of fine lamellae. This makes it one of the most sophisticated 'sieves' in the bird world.

About

A medium-sized dabbling duck with an enormous, spoon-shaped bill. It lives in shallow marshes, lagoons, and flooded meadows. The bill is the most diagnostic feature for both sexes. They are migratory birds that winter in the Mediterranean and Africa.

Behaviour

Shovelers use their bills to filter tiny crustaceans from the water. They swing their heads from side to side using fine 'teeth' (lamellae) along the bill edge. They often feed in pairs. They sometimes swim in circles to create a vortex that brings food to the surface.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Dark green head, a white breast, and chestnut-red flanks. He has a bright yellow eye.

♀ Female

Mottled brown like a Mallard. Her huge, heavy grey-orange bill is a clear indicator.

Similar species

Mallard
🐦
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
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