Northern shoveler

The northern shoveler is a dabbling duck found across North America, Europe, and Asia. Its broad, spoon-shaped bill filters small food items from water.

Dabbling duck: A waterfowl that feeds mainly at the water’s surface or in shallow water, rather than diving. The northern shoveler belongs to this group of surface-feeding ducks.
Dabbling: A feeding behavior in which a waterbird tips forward or sweeps its bill through shallow water without diving. Shovelers dabble and sweep their bills through water to collect food.
Northern shoveler plumage: The characteristic feather coloration of male and female northern shovelers across breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The male’s green head and pale body contrast with the female’s mottled brown appearance.
Mallard: A widespread dabbling duck with a broad distribution and distinctive male breeding plumage. Mallards share wetlands with shovelers but lack their exceptionally broad, spoon-shaped bill.
Lamella: A thin plate or comb-like structure, including the filtering structures along a duck’s bill. Rows of lamellae inside the bill help the shoveler retain food while water drains out.
Zooplankton: Small animals and animal-like organisms that drift in water, including crustaceans and insect larvae. Zooplankton is among the small prey filtered by a shoveler’s bill.
North American waterfowl migration: Seasonal movement of waterfowl along routes linking North American breeding and wintering areas. The species is a familiar migrant across several North American flyways.
Northern pintail: A migratory dabbling duck recognized by the male’s long, pointed tail feathers. Pintails are similar-sized migrants, but their long tail and narrow bill contrast with the shoveler’s shape.
Filter feeding: A feeding method that extracts small food particles from water or another fluid. The shoveler uses its bill to filter tiny organisms and plant material from water.
Courtship display: A set of signals or actions used by an animal to attract or assess a mate. Shovelers use distinctive displays and calls during pair formation.

Linked from 1 page