Waterfowl ID · Dabbler
Northern Shoveler
Huge spoon bill; drake green head, white chest, rusty sides.
In flight
Wings set far back, pale blue forewing
Color palette
Color palette
Green head
White chest
Rusty sides
Black bill
Wing feather pattern
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Powder-blue forewing — the giveaway in flight.
Peak months in California
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Fish & Game regulations
Federal duck stamp, CA validation and HIP required. Species bag limits apply. Steel shot only.
Current CDFW waterfowl regulations →
Found at
Lower Sacramento RiverStanislaus RiverSan Joaquin RiverSacramento NWR ComplexGrizzly Island / Suisun MarshSacramento Valley WaterfowlDelta WaterfowlCentral Valley WaterfowlGrasslands WaterfowlDelevan NWRColusa NWRSutter NWRUpper Butte Basin WAYolo Bypass WALos Banos WAVolta WANorth Grasslands WAMendota WASan Luis NWRMerced NWR