Gadwall

Mareca strepera

This unassuming duck's subtle beauty and distinctive call make it a favorite among sharp-eyed waterfowl enthusiasts worldwide.

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Visual Identification

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

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Orange

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Buff

Beak Colour (Female)

Orange Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Gadwall is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Gadwall is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Gadwall can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Gadwall can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Gadwall is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Gadwall is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Gadwall is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Gadwall is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Gadwall is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Gadwall is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Gadwall is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Gadwall is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Gadwall. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons