Northern Shoveler

Scientific Name - Anas clypeata

Nicknames - Spoonbill, Smilin' Mallard

Drake Shoveler

Identification Tips:

Length: 14 inches
Wingspan: 31 inches
Large dabbling duck
Large spatulate bill
Juvenile similar to adult female

Adult male alternate:

Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer

Black bill
Eyes yellow
Green head
White lower neck, breast, and tail
Rusty underbody with white band on hind flanks
Dark back, with elongated white scapulars
Pale blue upper secondary coverts
Green speculum with white leading and trailing edges

Hen Shoveler

Adult female:

Eyes brown
Orange bill with dusky patches
Mottled brown and buff head, neck and back
Dusky blue upper secondary coverts
Dull green speculum with white fore border

Similar species:

Large, spatulate bill makes the Northern Shoveler immediately recognizable in all plumages.