Northern Shoveler

duck · wetlands · filter feeder · migration

Spoon-shaped bill. The northern shoveler has an enormous, flat bill that looks like a shovel or spoon. This special shape helps it scoop through mud and water to find tiny food like seeds, insects, and small crustaceans.

Global traveler. These ducks breed in cold northern regions of Europe and North America during spring and summer, then fly south to warmer places like Central America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia when winter arrives.

North American homes. In North America, shovelers nest along Hudson Bay and across the western regions, ranging from the Great Lakes all the way to Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.

Shallow water dabblers. Unlike diving ducks, shovelers are dabbling ducks that tip forward in shallow water to feed, keeping their tails up in the air while their bills search the muddy bottom.

Widespread and common. Northern shovelers are not rare or endangered. They are found across many continents and remain one of the most common duck species in their range.