Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler has surged: up 166% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
About the Northern Shoveler
The Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is a North American member of the Ducks, Geese & Waterfowl (Anatidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the waterfowl.
- Size
- 12–43.5 in long (30–110 cm) — a medium to large waterfowl (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes and sheltered coastal waters.
- Diet
- Aquatic plants, seeds and invertebrates, dabbled at the surface or dived for.
- Range
- Recorded on 546 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 25 states, most concentrated in the Prairie Potholes.
- Family
- Anatidae · Waterfowl
Notable Northern Shoveler TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
Northern Shoveler has surged in surveyed states: up 166% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
Northern Shoveler Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Northern Shoveler is projected to rise about 41% by 2029 — from 0.20 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.28 (95% range 0.12–0.43). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±23.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Northern Shoveler Is Detected
BBS routes recording Northern Shoveler, sized by most recent count.
Northern Shoveler Population Trend by State
Northern Shoveler Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology → | Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology → | Survey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCR 2 | -85% | 1989 | 10 |
| BCR 4 | -51% | 1983 | 30 |
| Northern Pacific Rainforest | -25% | 1988 | 13 |
| Great Basin | +88% | 1974 | 82 |
| Northern Rockies | -33% | 1975 | 60 |
| Prairie Potholes | +213% | 1969 | 98 |
| Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau | -47% | 1971 | 23 |
| Badlands and Prairies | +25% | 1969 | 87 |
| Shortgrass Prairie | +64% | 1975 | 58 |
| Central Mixed Grass Prairie | -70% | 1969 | 27 |
| Eastern Tallgrass Prairie | -51% | 1974 | 7 |
| Prairie Hardwood Transition | -53% | 1973 | 20 |
| Coastal California | +244% | 1977 | 11 |
Northern Shoveler Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 166% since 1969.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.