General

Northern Shoveler: Medium-sized dabbling duck with a white breast, white-bordered black back, and rufous-brown underparts and sides. Head and neck are iridescent green, large bill is black and eyes are pale yellow. Wings have large, pale blue shoulder patches, white bars, and green speculum. Legs and feet are orange. Eclipse male is duller and heavily mottled, has reduced green on head and neck, and dark-saddled orange bill. Female resembles small Mallard hen with oversized bill and orange eyes. Juvenile is similar to female but has gray saddle on bill and dark eyes.

Range and Habitat

Northern Shoveler: Breeds from Alaska and northern Manitoba south to California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin; local and uncommon in the Great Lakes area and the northeast. Winters from Oregon across the southern half of the U.S. to the Gulf Coast, north to New Jersey, and south to Central America. Prefers marshes and prairie potholes; sometimes found on salt or brackish marshes.

Breeding and Nesting

Northern Shoveler: Six to nineteen olive buff or green gray eggs are laid in a down-lined cup of grass concealed in vegetation, often far from water. Incubation ranges from 21 to 27 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Northern Shoveler: Feeds on tiny crustaceans, mollusks, insects, seeds, fish, and aquatic vegetation; forages by dabbling in shallow water.

Vocalization

Northern Shoveler: Makes a low croak, cluck, or quack. In courtship, utters a guttural "who, who, who" or "took, took, took."

Similar Species

Northern Shoveler: Mallard has smaller bill, and chestnut-brown breast, and lacks blue shoulder patch. Blue-winged Teal is smaller, has brown body and gray head, and white crescent on face.