Gadwall
Least ConcernMareca strepera
Visual Identification
Gadwall
Appearance
The Gadwall is a medium-sized duck with a sleek, finely striped, banded plumage streamlined body. Males have a distinctive gray body, intricate vermiculated patterns on the sides, and a black rear end. The head is brown with a subtle crest.
Females are mottled brown with an orange-edged bill, resembling a smaller Mallard hen. Both sexes display a white speculum (wing patch) in flight, a key identifying feature.
Size
Length
46cm to 56cm
Wingspan
84cm to 95cm
Weight
650g to 1000g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Gadwalls inhabit shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, including marshes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers. They breed across northern regions of North America and Eurasia, including parts of the UK.
During winter, they migrate to southern areas, with significant populations in the southern United States, Mexico, and southern Europe. In the UK, they are year-round residents, with numbers boosted by winter visitors.
Gadwalls are much more common in the west USA but breed in the Great Lakes, Alberta, Saskatchewan, North and South Dakotas, Kansas, California, and the Pacific Canadian and American coastlines. Gadwalls disperse across the USA and Central America in the winter and can be spotted in Idaho, Kansas, Ohio, and Virginia.
In the UK, they breed in south Wales, parts of Northern Ireland, east Scotland, south England, and the Midlands, especially across the Cambridgeshire fens and Ryemead in Hertfordshire.
Elevation Range
Up to 2,000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Diet
Gadwalls are primarily herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, seeds, and algae. They use their serrated bill edges to strain vegetation from the water.
Occasionally, they supplement their diet with small invertebrates, especially during the breeding season when protein needs are higher.
Studies report that Gadwalls eat as much as 95% plant food. The remaining 5% consists of small aquatic invertebrates consumed incidentally rather than purposefully.
Behaviour
Gadwalls are known for their subtle, graceful swimming style. They often feed by dabbling at the water's surface or by tipping up to reach submerged vegetation.
During courtship, males perform elaborate head-pumping displays and whistling calls to attract females.
Gadwalls are not as gregarious as other dabbling ducks like Mallards. Instead, they’re relatively quiet and reserved, confining themselves to their mated pairs across the breeding season. Wintering Gadwalls are more sociable.
Vocalisation
Gadwalls are relatively quiet ducks. Males produce a soft, raspy 'meep' or low whistle, especially during courtship. Females have a quack similar to a Mallard's but quieter and hoarser. In flight, both sexes may emit a nasal 'hneck-hneck' call.
Nesting & Breeding
Gadwall breeding season typically begins in late April and goes to early May. Males court females with elaborate displays, including whistling calls and head-bobbing movements.
Females construct nests on the ground, often hidden in dense vegetation near water. The nest is a shallow depression lined with grass and down. A typical clutch consists of 8-12 cream-colored eggs.
Incubation lasts about 26 days, performed solely by the female. Ducklings are precocial, leaving the nest within 24 hours of hatching and able to feed themselves under the mother's protection.
Lifespan
years
The Gadwall typically lives for 10 to 15 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, Gadwalls face threats from habitat loss and degradation of wetlands. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring wetland habitats, particularly in breeding and wintering areas. Sustainable hunting practices are also crucial for population management.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Gadwalls in shallow wetlands and coastal areas
- Observe their distinctive white speculum during flight
- Listen for their soft, raspy call, unlike the loud quack of many ducks
- In the UK and the US, check managed wetlands and reservoirs during the winter months
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Gray Duck
Family:
AnatidaePredators
Did You Know?
- Gadwalls often 'steal' food from diving ducks by waiting for them to surface with aquatic plants.
- They have the highest percentage of plant matter in their diet among dabbling ducks.
- Gadwall populations have increased in some areas due to the creation of artificial wetlands.
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References
- 1
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Mareca strepera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22680149A86020572.
View source - 2 3
report, 2015: Wetlands International