The Shoveler is predominantly a winter visitor to the UK but also has a widespread but localised breeding population with strongholds in East Anglia and Yorkshire and a five-year mean of 1,241 pairs during 2015–2019 (Eaton et al. 2021). There has been little change in the number of occupied 10-km squares since the 1968–72 Atlas, with losses offset by gains (Balmer et al. 2013). The recent trend is uncertain as it has only been an RBBP species since 2006 and, although numbers have increased during that period, it is unclear whether this increase is genuine or if it is due simply to increased observer effort and reporting (Eaton et al. 2021).

Accompanying an increase in winter population size, Shoveler range size has increased by 36% since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas, and the majority of these gains have been in Britain, most notably in Orkney.

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Shovelers are most often seen in autumn and winter though can be seen in the breeding season at suitable breeding sites.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.