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2

Gadwall

(Mareca [Anas] strepera)
German name(s): "Schnatterente"
Size: 46-56 cm; wing span 78-90 cm
Weight: 0.5-1.0 kg

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Gadwall at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Gadwall in breeding plumage in display posture (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a male Gadwall in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, October 2018]

Lateral view of a male Gadwall in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a male Gadwall in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a male Gadwall in breeding plumage in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]

Lateral view of a male Gadwall in breeding plumage in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Gadwall (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female Gadwall (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a female Gadwall in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Embalse de Los Canchales, near Montijo, Spain, August 2019]

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Gadwalls; female on the left, male in breeding plumage on the right; note the orange edges on the female's bill (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, October 2018]

Lateral view of a pair of Gadwalls; female on the left, male in breeding plumage on the right; note the orange edges on the female's bill (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]

Lateral view of a pair of Gadwalls, male in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Frontal view of two male and a female Gadwalls in breeding plumage at take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a pair of Gadwalls in flight; male in breeding plumage below (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Marinha da Garganta, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male and two female Gadwall in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Embalse de Los Canchales, near Montijo, Spain, August 2019]

NON-BREEDING

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Gadwalls; female on the left, male in non-breeding plumage on the right
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Grand Voyeux Regional Nature Reserve, near Paris, France, March 2021]

Two pairs of Gadwalls in non-breeding plumage, males at the centre, females left and right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire, England, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Female Gadwall with a clutch of 8 chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Behaviour

Gadwalls can form substantial flocks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, Granada, Spain, November 2021]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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