This familiar duck, with its large 'spade-like' bill, is a relatively scarce and localised breeder. Winter numbers are swelled by the arrival of wintering birds from further east.
The Shoveler is a rather specialized feeder, as its broad bill might suggest, feeding on zooplankton. One consequence of this is that Shoveler tend to favour more ephemeral waterbodies where potential competitors (e.g. fish) cannot survive.
Wintering individuals include birds from the breeding populations that extend from eastern Fennoscandia and the Baltic to western Russia, though many of these move further south into France and Spain, as do some individuals from our own breeding population.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Shoveler
Ducks are usually easy to identify, but the females can be more challenging. Many of our familiar dabbling ducks have subtly-plumaged brown females which, on first glance, appear similar. This workshop will help you tell them apart with confidence.
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Shoveler, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Flight call
Call
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The Shoveler is predominantly a winter visitor to the UK but also has a widespread but localised breeding population with strongholds in East Anglia and Yorkshire and a five-year mean of 1,241 pairs during 2015–2019 (Eaton et al. 2021). There has been little change in the number of occupied 10-km squares since the 1968–72 Atlas, with losses offset by gains (Balmer et al. 2013). The recent trend is uncertain as it has only been an RBBP species since 2006 and, although numbers have increased during that period, it is unclear whether this increase is genuine or if it is due simply to increased observer effort and reporting (Eaton et al. 2021).
Shovelers are present mainly in lowland areas, favouring a range of inland wetland sites and some coastal estuaries. They are most widely distributed and abundant in parts of southern Britain and in mid-western Ireland, as well as in parts of the Western and Northern Isles. Shovelers are relatively scarce and local breeders in Britain & Ireland, with breeding concentrated along low-lying floodplains and associated wetlands.
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011. More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011. More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Accompanying an increase in winter population size, Shoveler range size has increased by 36% since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas, and the majority of these gains have been in Britain, most notably in Orkney.
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution Change 1968–72 to 2008–11. More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution Change 1981–84 to 2007–11 More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK
% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)
Shovelers are most often seen in autumn and winter though can be seen in the breeding season at suitable breeding sites.
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
An overview of year-round movements for the whole of Europe can be seen on the EuroBirdPortal viewer.
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