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northern shoveler
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northern shoveler A male Northern Shoveler duck with a green head, white chest, and brown sides flies with wings raised against a blue sky. Male Northern Shoveler duck with a green head, yellow eye, white chest, and rusty brown sides floats on blue water.
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northern shoveler

bird
Also known as: Anas clypeata, Spatula clypeata, neighbour’s mallard(Show More)
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Quick Summary

northern shoveler
northern shoveler Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata).

The northern shoveler (A. clypeata) is a species of dabbling duck known for its distinctive, large, spoon-shaped bill. This unique bill is lined with comb-like structures called lamellae, which it uses to filter food from water and mud.1

These ducks are found in North America, Europe, and Asia, migrating to warmer regions during winter. Males have a striking appearance with a green head, white breast, and chestnut belly and sides.1

Northern shovelers inhabit shallow marshes and lagoons. They are rapid fliers and can appear somewhat humpbacked in the air. While they are not highly prized as game birds due to the taste of their meat, they play a role in their aquatic ecosystems by consuming small organisms and seeds.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. shoveler
  2. anseriform - Reproductive behaviour

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