Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata

By November most of the male ducks are in "alternate" plumage, meaning they have largely completed the molt into the bright breeding costume worn most of the year. The Northern Shoveler is an exception, as Ralph Palmer writes (Handbook of NA Birds,  Vol. 2), "…in some individuals either the whole (molting) process is gradual and prolonged, or the major portion of it occurs late…". Thus, at times we see some interesting and at times puzzling male Northern Shovelers.

The first photo, 11/22/13, shows a typical female Northern Shoveler, with the cryptic feathering on back and flank common to most female dabbling ducks in the genus Anas. Her large spatulate bill always has some orange coloring, and her face has only a subtle post-ocular stripe.

The male in eclipse plumage looks a lot like the female, with cryptic coloring on the back and flank, but his yellow iris, black bill and darker head help with the ID. Some of the male shovelers that we seen in Nov-Dec. retain parts of the cryptic feathering on the back and flank, and shown in the second photo (Colusa NWF, 12/07/13). Part of the flank now shows the chestnut color and his head is well along to the black color of winter. It's fun to see one with a white crescent on the face near the bill, sort of like a Blue-winged Teal male.

The next photo shows a typical male in alternate plumage, with dark head and back, black bill, rich chestnut on the flanks, and bright white breast. 

Below we get a peek at the powder blue wing patch in this less typical back view. Note the bright orange legs.