Northern shoveler
Amazing fact
A female northern shoveler twists her body against the ground to make a hollow for her nest.
Smithsonian National Zoo
No sign-up needed. You can save notes on this device.
An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
A female northern shoveler twists her body against the ground to make a hollow for her nest.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Northern shoveler
- Scientific name
- Spatula clypeata
- Japanese name
- ハシビロガモ
- Group
- Birds
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Spatula
Its Japanese name, hashibirogamo, means 'wide-billed duck' because of its broad bill. It lives on lakes, ponds, rivers and sheltered bays.
The comb-like ridges along the edge of its bill are finer than those of other ducks, so it can strain out even very small food.
Several birds have been seen swimming in a circle to make a whirlpool, then eating the food that gathers in the middle.
How the Northern shoveler lives
In the breeding season, they live in shallow fresh waters with plenty of plants such as reeds. Soon after hatching, ducklings follow their mother from the nest to nearby water. A pair bond can last until the birds leave their breeding grounds in autumn. In winter, they stay in small flocks.
Smithsonian National ZooBasic data
- Size
- Total length: about 50 cm
- Diet
- Plankton and other food
- Range
- Japan, Eurasia, northern Africa, North America, and elsewhere
Where the Northern shoveler has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ハシビロガモ
- 简体中文
- 琵嘴鸭
- 繁體中文
- 琵嘴鴨
- 한국어
- 넓적부리
- Español
- Cuchara común
- Français
- Canard souchet
- Deutsch
- Löffelente
- Português (Brasil)
- Pato-colhereiro
- Italiano
- Mestolone
- हिन्दी
- तिदारी
- العربية
- أبو مجرفة شمالي
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Itik Sendok
- Tiếng Việt
- Vịt mỏ thìa
- Русский
- Широконоска
- Türkçe
- Bayağı kaşıkgaga
- ไทย
- เป็ดปากพลั่ว
- বাংলা
- উত্তুরে খুন্তেহাঁস
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 井の頭自然文化園 — ハシビロガモChecked: 2026-11-03
- Smithsonian National Zoo — Northern shovelerChecked: 2026-11-06
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Northern shoveler, look for this
- Look for the bright green patch on the wings when the bird flies.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
Smithsonian National ZooEXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Northern shoveler
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Anatidae
MORE TO MEET
