ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Northern Shoveler

 Northern Shoveler

Northern shoveler

Puddle ducks are typically birds of fresh, shallow marshes and rivers rather than of large lakes and bays. They are good divers, but usually feed by dabbling or tipping rather than by submerging. Any duck feeding in croplands will likely be a puddle duck, for most of this group are surefooted and can walk and run well on land. Their diet consists of mostly vegetable.

Shovelers, "spoonbills" to many, are early migrants, moving out at the first frost. The largest numbers are in the Central and Pacific flyways.
 

Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata

At-a-Glance

• Type: Puddle Duck

• Peak Breeding Activity: April-June

• Incubation: 22-25 days

• Clutch Size: 9-11 eggs

• Young Fledge: 38-66 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: aquatic invertebrates and plant matter
Description
The secondary coverts of the shoveler are blue with a white margin and the speculum is green. The bill is very wide and spoon-like.

Habitat and Habits
The usual flight of the shoveler is steady and direct. When startled, the small flocks twist and turn in the air like teal. The huge, spatula- like bills of shovelers are used for straining small animal life and seeds from the shallows. Because of this, they are usually found in very shallow wetlands. Drakes call woh-woh and took-took. The hen's quack is feeble.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
An interesting fact about shovelers is that they are extremely faithful to their mates; pair bonds last longer than any other duck found at this latitude. Nests are made of grasses and are placed on ground near water. The young are born precocial.