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Northern Shoveler
(Spatula [Anas] clypeata)
: "Northern Shoveller", "Shoveler"
 German name(s): "Löffelente"
Size: 44-52 cm; wing span 73-82 cm
Weight: 400-680 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Northern Shovelers are medium-sized ducks.
Their plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are different.
Male
Northern Shovelers in breeding
plumage
have a glossy dark-green head and neck
(which in some individuals can look almost black), with a
contrasting white chest and wing patch. The rest of the front
and the sides are chestnut. The upperwings have light-blue
panels, while the rest is mostly dark-grey to black.
Undertail coverts and rump are black. The tail has a white
outer edge.
Females
have cryptic
plumage.
Their front is light-brown, barred with darker grey-brown.
The head is greyish-brown, with the cap darker than the
sides of the head. The sides are coloured as the front,
but with much bolder vermiculation (broader light-brown
edge lining on the feathers) and the upperwings are equally
strongly vermiculated, but dark grey-brown. The wings of
females
have a grey panel and the flight feathers are a
darker shade of grey.
Males
in eclipse have an intermediate plumage that is similar
to females',
but still shows some signs a dark-grey and
white facial mask in front of the eyes. Also the body
plumage
has more chestnut tints in it than a
female's
and the wing panels, now green, still show.
Males
have yellow irises, while
females
have dark-brown irises.
Both sexes have a massive, rather flat, bill for
sieving small material from water ("dabbling"). The
males'
bill is dark-grey in the breeding season and lighter-grey,
with an indication of an orange gape, in eclipse.
Females
have a bill like males in eclipse.
The legs
and feet are bright-orange.
Juveniles
are much darker grey-brown, both on front and
back, than
females,
but otherwise resemble
females.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Northern
Shoveler at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Northern Shoveler is available
HERE
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Northern Shovelers are a partly migratory species with a
very wide-ranging distribution, spanning almost all across
the northern hemisphere. They are found on all northern
continents plus Iceland and Spitsbergen.
In parts of their range, usually in temperate climate zones,
they are permanent residents. In summer they extend their
breeding range towards the Arctic circle, while in winter
the migratory population retreats into subtropical and even
tropical areas.
The western Eurasian population spends the winters in the
Mediterranean, parts of the Middle East, Asia Minor, Arabia
and North and East Africa.
The central Asian population winters on the Indian subcontinent,
while the far-eastern Northern Shovelers winter in southern
China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and the northern Philippines.
The North American population winters in southern North America.
In Europe Northern Shovelers are permanent residents mainly in
France, the Benelux countries, Denmark and on the British Isles.
There is also a permanent population along the Bosporus and the
North coast of the Black Sea and on Corsica.
In summer they extend their breeding range into central, eastern
and south-eastern Europe, with the exception of the major river
systems (Rhine, Danube, Rhone) and central to northern Scandinavia.
The migratory population spends the winters in the Mediterranean
countries and also all major Mediterranean islands.
Northern Shovelers have a preference for open wetlands, submerged
pasture and marshes.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
D. Wilczynska reports spotting Northern Shovelers in wetlands
along the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in April 2017.
J. Pires reports finding Northern
Shovelers semi-regularly in the area from the Tejo estuary to
Mora, Evora, Portugal.
M. Eaton reports finding a Northern Shoveler
at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire,
England, in September 2019.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
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Near-frontal view of a male Northern Shoveler starting to
moult out of breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire,
England, September 2019]
Lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, February 2018]
Two male Northern Shovelers in breeding
plumage -
note that one male's head looks blacker than the other's
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Two male Northern Shovelers in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Two male Northern Shovelers in breeding
plumage;
here one (the one with the blackish head) is stretching
its wings, in the process exhibiting its underwing pattern
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Comparison of a male Northern Shoveler in breeding
plumage
with an adult Garganey
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
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FEMALE |
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Lateral view of a pair of Northern Shovelers; female on the
left, male in breeding
plumage
on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, February 2018]
Female Northern Shoveler taking off, centre, with another female
on the right and a male in breeding
plumage on the left
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, March 2015]
Northern Shovelers landing; male in breeding
plumage on the left,
female on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, January 2018]
Flock of Northern Shovelers in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2015]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
