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2

Northern Shoveler

(Spatula [Anas] clypeata)
Alternate name(s): "Northern Shoveller", "Shoveler"
German name(s): "Löffelente"

Size: 44-52 cm; wing span 73-82 cm
Weight: 400-680 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Northern Shoveler at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

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]

Near-lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, January 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler in breeding plumage stretching a wing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, January 2020]

Lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Northern Shoveler in breeding plumage; depending on the angle of incoming light the head can look dark-blue, rather than greyish-green (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, February 2021]

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; 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]

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler moulting into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Marim, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler in non-breeding plumage; depending on the angle of incoming light the head can look dark-blue, rather than greyish-green (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of a male Northern Shoveler in non-breeding plumage on the point of take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salitas do Brito, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Northern Shoveler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

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]

PAIR

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]

Lateral view of a pair of Northern Shovelers, male in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, February 2021]

Pair of 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]

Behaviour

In their winter quarters Northern Shovelers can form substantial flocks.

Lateral view of a group of Northern Shovelers in flight; males in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

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.

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