The northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere. Its native range includes North America, from Alaska and Canada extending southward into the United States. In Eurasia, it is widely distributed across northern and central Europe and extends into parts of Central Asia.

The species inhabits freshwater wetlands, including marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. It prefers open, shallow waters with ample floating and emergent vegetation, which provide feeding grounds as well as nesting sites. During the breeding season, northern shovelers can also be found in prairie potholes and boreal forest wetlands.

As a dabbling duck, the northern shoveler occupies a niche characterized by its unique foraging method. It has a broad, spatula-shaped bill adapted to filter feed on aquatic invertebrates, plankton, and plant matter from the water's surface and mud, making it well-suited to its wetland habitats.