The Northern Shoveler is a species of duck that lives across large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Male Northern Shovelers have green heads, chestnut underparts and white breasts during breeding season. Females and non-breeding males are similar: dull mottled brown all over. Both sexes have spatula-like wide bills.
Northern Shovelers are dabbling ducks, foraging for plant material by swimming with their bill lowered into the water. During breeding season they will supplement their diets with animal matter such as insects, small crustaceans, and mollusks.
Northern Shovelers are highly migratory, leaving their breeding grounds for warmer climates in the winter. Though the population trend for this species is decreasing, their very large range means their current conservation status is Least Concern as of November 2013.
