Northern Shoveler Photo Gallery

Breeding male

Reddish-brown flanks contrast with white chest and black back. Note the male's green head, long, oversized black bill, and yellow eye.

Female/immature

Females have a coarsely marked brown head and body. Their powdery-blue shoulder patch is sometimes visible at rest. Note the long, oversized orange bill and orange legs.

Breeding male and female

Very long and wide bill is distinctive on both males and females, even at considerable distance.

Nonbreeding male

Subdued shadow of breeding plumage visible under coarse brown markings. Long, oversized black bill.

Breeding male

Wings in flight show green secondaries and powdery-blue shoulder patch. Large, wide bill is often noticeable even in flight.

Breeding male

When molting into breeding plumage, males can still have some coarse brown markings on the chest and flanks.

Female/immature

Bill has a distinctive long and lobed shape.

Nonbreeding male

Nonbreeding males are darker overall than breeding birds, but still easily identifiable by bill shape, yellow eye, and striking wing pattern.

Female/immature

In flight, female has a subdued speculum edged in white. Large, orange bill is conspicuous even in flight.

Chick

Chicks are covered in down and able to walk and swim as soon as they hatch.

Flock

Large flocks sometimes feed by swimming in circles to stir up food.

Breeding male

Occurs in wetlands, particularly shallow ponds where it dabbles for food.