Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of South Australia Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australian Capital Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Victoria Ducks, Geese & Swans of Western Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador

See what's near you right now

The Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 613 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Spatula
Species clypeata

Where it lives

Widespread

Quick facts

Weight: 613 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Northern Shoveler hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Northern Shoveler is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL widespread.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 613 g, with a wing length of about 22.6 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 27.1 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Northern Shoveler — Flight call

Recorded by Marc Anderson Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Northern Shoveler?

The Northern Shoveler is a large bird that weighs around 613 g.

Where does the Northern Shoveler live?

The Northern Shoveler is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Northern Shoveler belong to?

The Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Northern Shoveler eat?

The Northern Shoveler hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Northern Shoveler migrate?

The Northern Shoveler is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Northern Shoveler endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Northern Shoveler make?

1 real field recording of the Northern Shoveler — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Northern Shoveler's range?

The Northern Shoveler has a mapped global range of about 27.1 million km².