Northern Shovelers are winter birds in Nevada: the first arrive in late July, they are common by late August, peak in late November (19% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.
When to look
First arrivalsJul 22-31late July
Common byAug 22-31late August
PeakNov 22-30late November
Most gone byMay 1-7early May
Best: late November. First arrivals late July; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 19% of Nevada checklists.
Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Nevada that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Cottonwood LakeClark County, best late January · 119 checklists that week, 4,195 in all91%
Swan Lake/Lemmon ValleyWashoe County, best the second week of March · 22 checklists that week, 1,492 in all91%
Pitch Fork CoveClark County, best early January · 83 checklists that week, 1,958 in all86%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In Nevada, the Northern Shoveler is most often listed on checklists started between 7 and 9 am (14% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
17%
17%
18%
17%
February
17%
14%
13%
15%
March
17%
17%
18%
17%
April
16%
14%
14%
12%
May
8.1%
5.6%
5.0%
4.3%
June
3.5%
3.1%
2.6%
1.7%
July
1.6%
1.6%
2.0%
3.5%
August
3.4%
6.5%
7.4%
9.4%
September
11%
12%
9.9%
11%
October
11%
12%
11%
14%
November
15%
17%
18%
19%
December
20%
18%
15%
16%
Neighboring states
California: arrives the second week of August, 2 weeks later than Nevada
Utah: arrives the second week of August, 2 weeks later than Nevada
Idaho: arrives late July, in the same week than Nevada
Arizona: arrives the second week of August, 2 weeks later than Nevada
Common questions
When do Northern Shovelers arrive in Nevada?
Northern Shovelers are winter birds in Nevada: the first arrive in late July, they are common by late August, peak in late November (19% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.
When do Northern Shovelers leave Nevada?
Most Northern Shovelers have left Nevada by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of June.
When is the best time to see a Northern Shoveler in Nevada?
The Northern Shoveler is reported most often in late November, on about 19% of Nevada checklists.
Where in Nevada are Northern Shovelers seen most often?
By county, Mineral County, Churchill County, and Eureka County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Northern Shoveler (counties with at least 200 checklists).
