Gadwall

À propos

A medium-sized dabbling duck. Males appear grey-brown but are intricately patterned with fine grey vermiculations, black rump, and white speculum. Females resemble Mallard but with orange-sided bill. Widespread across Eurasia and North America. Feeds by dabbling and grazing.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	50,3 cm	19.8 in
Poids	857,5 g	30.25 oz

Identification

Plumage

Males have finely vermiculated gray-brown plumage with black rump and undertail. White speculum patch diagnostic in flight. Females mottled brown like Mallard but smaller and with orange-sided bill. Subtle but elegant.

Habitat & Range

Freshwater lakes, reservoirs, marshes, and rivers with emergent vegetation across Eurasia and North America. Winters on large open wetlands and coastal estuaries. Range and population increasing in Europe.

🌿 Wetland 🌾 Grassland 🏖️ Coastal

Répartition géographique

Found year-round in Australia and New Zealand; nomadic in arid Australia, following temporary rainfall-fed wetlands.

Diet & Feeding

Dabbles for seeds and aquatic invertebrates; diet shifts toward invertebrates in spring; forages in shallow tropical wetlands.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 21-27 days. Fledging: 48-63 days.

Taille de la couvée

5-15

Son

Chant

Male utters a soft, nasal nheck note; female produces a series of descending, quacking notes. Both sexes are relatively quiet; female's quacking is softer and less strident than a Mallard.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Famille	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Mareca
Espèces	Mareca strepera

Distribution

Gadwall has been recorded in 7 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States 🇨🇴 Colombia

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Gadwall eat?

Dabbles for seeds and aquatic invertebrates; diet shifts toward invertebrates in spring; forages in shallow tropical wetlands.

Where does the Gadwall live?

Freshwater lakes, reservoirs, marshes, and rivers with emergent vegetation across Eurasia and North America. Winters on large open wetlands and coastal estuaries. Range and population increasing in Europe.

Is the Gadwall endangered?

The Gadwall has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Gadwall nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 21-27 days. Fledging: 48-63 days.

What does the Gadwall sound like?

Male utters a soft, nasal nheck note; female produces a series of descending, quacking notes. Both sexes are relatively quiet; female's quacking is softer and less strident than a Mallard.

How big is the Gadwall?

The Gadwall has a wingspan of 50.3 cm, weight of 857.5 g.

What order and family does the Gadwall belong to?

The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.