Northern Shoveler

Everybody knows the shoveler. One of the most distinctive—and common—puddle ducks in North America, shovelers, despite their awkward bill, are handsome ducks in their own right, and a lot of fun to hunt. Shovelers use their large bills to filter small invertebrates from the mud, which can give them a stronger flavor than other ducks. Interestingly, shoveler pairs are monogamous—a common trait of geese, but not of puddle ducks.