Dabbling duck · Duck ID

Northern shoveler

Spatula clypeata · The spoonbill. A huge flat bill, and drakes with a green head and white chest.

Drake. Photo: KKPCW · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Length: 17–20 in
Weight: 0.9–1.8 lb
Wingspan: 27–33 in
Group: Dabbling duck

Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.

Field marks

How to identify a northern shoveler

Drake

Green head, yellow eye, bright white chest and chestnut sides. The long spoon-shaped black bill is the giveaway.

Hen

Mottled brown like a hen mallard but with the same huge spatula bill, often orange along the edges.

In flight

Looks front-heavy because of the bill. Pale blue forewing like a teal; drakes flash white and chestnut.

Look-alikes

Mallard: Drake mallards have a white neck ring and gray sides, not a white chest and chestnut sides. The bill shape settles it.
Blue-winged teal: Same blue forewing, but teal are much smaller with ordinary bills.

Photos

Northern shoveler gallery

Northern shoveler: Hen — **Hen**KKPCW · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Northern shoveler: Drake in flight — **Drake in flight**Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Hear it

Northern shoveler call

Recording: Bubulcus · CC BY 3.0 · source

2026-27 bag limits

Northern shoveler limits in six Mid-South states

State	Northern shoveler daily limit	Possession	Total daily ducks	Source
MississippiNov 27–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit Not confirmed Opening-day possession wording in the Digest (check the official source)	6 ducks a day	MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 Mississippi rules
TennesseeNov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit, except 1 times on opening day and 2 times on the second day	6 ducks a day	TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 Tennessee rules
ArkansasNov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Arkansas rules
LouisianaEast Zone Nov 21–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 31; West Zone Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 24	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Louisiana rules
MissouriNorth Oct 31–Dec 29; Middle Nov 7–Dec 13 and Dec 19–Jan 10; South Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–Jan 31	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 Missouri rules
KentuckyNov 26–29; Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 Kentucky rules

Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.

Mid-South