Northern Shoveler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesNorthern Shoveler
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.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 03, 2020Female/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.
© Brendan Fogarty / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 15, 2017Breeding male and female
Very long and wide bill is distinctive on both males and females, even at considerable distance.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 18, 2007Nonbreeding male
Subdued shadow of breeding plumage visible under coarse brown markings. Long, oversized black bill.
© Steve Metchis / Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 25, 2020Breeding male
Wings in flight show green secondaries and powdery-blue shoulder patch. Large, wide bill is often noticeable even in flight.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, December 30, 2008Breeding male
When molting into breeding plumage, males can still have some coarse brown markings on the chest and flanks.
© August Davidson-Onsgard / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 05, 2019Female/immature
Bill has a distinctive long and lobed shape.
© Foster Wang / Macaulay LibraryDistrict of Columbia, October 17, 2020Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding males are darker overall than breeding birds, but still easily identifiable by bill shape, yellow eye, and striking wing pattern.
© Sergey Pavlov / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 07, 2020Female/immature
In flight, female has a subdued speculum edged in white. Large, orange bill is conspicuous even in flight.
© Nick Pulcinella / Macaulay LibraryTexas, February 20, 2017Chick
Chicks are covered in down and able to walk and swim as soon as they hatch.
© DigiBirdTrek CA / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 16, 2017Flock
Large flocks sometimes feed by swimming in circles to stir up food.
© Jo-Szu [Ross] (若詩) Tsai (蔡) / Macaulay LibraryChiayi County, March 11, 2017Breeding male
Occurs in wetlands, particularly shallow ponds where it dabbles for food.
© Susan Zelek / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, March 20, 2017Similar SpeciesCinnamon Teal
Female/nonbreeding male
Female Cinnamon Teals are smaller with a smaller, dark bill not orangish like female/immature Northern Shovelers.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, April 15, 2019Similar SpeciesCinnamon Teal
Breeding male
Breeding male Cinnamon Teals are more cinnamon colored throughout and lack the white breast of male Northern Shovelers.
© Matthew Pendleton / Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 23, 2015Similar SpeciesCinnamon Teal
Breeding male
Cinnamon Teals have a similar color pattern on the wing to Northern Shovelers, but they have a cinnamon head and breast while Northern Shovelers have a white breast.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 21, 2017Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Female/nonbreeding male
Blue-winged Teals are smaller with a smaller bill than Northern Shovelers. Also note bill color differences on females/immatures; dark on Blue-winged Teals and orangish on Northern Shovelers.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2015Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Breeding male
Blue-winged Teals have a white crescent on the face that shovelers lack and a dark (not white) breast.
© Dave Spier / Macaulay LibrarySouth Carolina, February 23, 2006Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Breeding male
In flight, Blue-winged Teals have a similar color pattern on the wing to Northern Shovelers, but they have a dark (not white) breast.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2016Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Female/nonbreeding male
Green-winged Teals are smaller with a smaller bill than Northern Shovelers. Also note bill color differences on female/immatures; dark on Green-winged Teals and orangish on Northern Shovelers.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 21, 2011Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Breeding male (American)
Green-winged Teals are smaller with a smaller bill than Northern Shovelers. Males have a chestnut (not green) face and only have a small white bar on their sides, not an entirely white breast.
© Jeff Stacey / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 22, 2017Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Breeding male and female (American)
In flight, Green-winged teals do not have blue on the upper wings like Northern Shovelers.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, March 31, 2009Similar SpeciesMallard
Breeding male (Northern)
Breeding male Mallards have a yellow (not dark) bill and a brown (not white) breast compared to Northern Shovelers.
© Liron Gertsman / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 21, 2015Similar SpeciesMallard
Female (Northern)
Female Mallards have a smaller bill and a darker crown than female Northern Shovelers.
© Steeve R. Baker / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, April 02, 2017Search species and articles
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