- One who, or that which, shovels. - A river duck (Spatula clypeata), native of Europe and
America. It has a large bill, broadest towards the tip. The male is
handsomely variegated with green, blue, brown, black, and white on the
body; the head and neck are dark green. Called also broadbill,
spoonbill, shovelbill, and maiden duck. The Australian shoveler, or
shovel-nosed duck (S. rhynchotis), is a similar species.