Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is a distinctive dabbling duck readily recognized by its broad, spatulate bill, which it uses to filter planktonic crustaceans, aquatic insects and seeds from the water. In Arizona, shovelers are most abundant as winter visitors—October through March—frequenting shallow, nutrient-rich wetlands. They also pass through during spring and fall migration, and a small number may breed in secluded marshes of southeastern Arizona (e.g., Sulphur Springs Valley) between May and July. Males in breeding plumage display an iridescent green head, white breast and rusty flanks, while females are mottled brown. Listed as Least Concern, Northern Shovelers remain one of Arizona’s more reliably encountered wintering waterfowl, their large, upturned bills and active surface-skimming behavior making them a favorite among birders at local wetlands.
