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Gadwall
(Mareca [Anas] strepera)
German name(s): "Schnatterente"
Size: 46-56 cm; wing span 78-90 cm
Weight: 0.5-1.0 kg
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks. They are dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
having different plumages.
Only males
have different
breeding and
non-breeding
plumages.
Male Gadwalls
in breeding
plumage have a
finely vermiculated greyish-brown head and a front and wing
coverts with coarser white-and-dark-grey vermiculation. Apart
from dark-grey wing coverts with brown edge lining, their most
prominent feature is a white speculum that is always visible.
The short tail is light-grey.
Note that the vent, rump and undertail coverts are black.
The relatively short and almost straight bill is dark-grey.
Males in
eclipse resemble
females
(see below), but with lighter grey wing panels.
The most conspicuous difference compared with
breeding
plumage is that
the vent, rump and undertail coverts are vermiculated grey-brown,
rather than black.
The bill of
males in eclipse
is similar to that of
females,
but with less conspicuous orange edges.
Females
are coarsely vermiculated dark-grey with brown edge lining.
The head is greyish, with a dark-grey cap.
The speculum is small and white, while the flight feathers are
inconspicuous grey.
Their bill is grey with orange lining; note that the dark culmen
is unbroken.
The irises of both sexes are dark orange-brown. Legs and feet are
yellow-orange.
Juveniles resemble
females,
but with darker grey hues on crown, nape of the neck and eye-stripes.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Gadwall
at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Gadwall is available
HERE
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Gadwalls are found on all continents of the northern hemisphere.
In general terms,
in the northern parts of their range they are breeding migrants,
at intermediate latitude they are sedentary and in the southern
parts of their range they are non-breeding wintering migrants.
In North America their distribution ranges from Alaska and Canada
to southern Mexico.
In Asia their breeding range lies at mid-latitudes from eastern
Germany and the Baltic coastline in the West to Hokkaido, Japan,
in the East. The wintering range of the Asian population
includes western Asia Minor and a subtropical belt from the
Euphrates/Tigris river system to coastal southern China.
The European breeding migrants overwinter in Africa, in
part along the North-west and North coast of the continent,
in part along the length of the river Nile.
In Europe Gadwalls are partly sedentary (Spain, southern
England, parts of France and the Benelux countries), while
elsewhere in western and southern Europe (with the exceptions
of Portugal, Italy, parts of western Germany and the major
mountain ranges) they are winter migrants.
In eastern Europe, basically northward of the river Danube,
to the Baltic coastline and eastward from eastern Germany
they are breeding migrants.
Gadwalls have a preference for fresh water habitats, often
eutrophic lakes, with reed beds and well-vegetated islets.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
J. Pires reports finding Gadwalls
semi-regularly in the area from the Tejo estuary to Mora,
Evora, Portugal. They were also found at Embalse de Los
Canchales, near Montijo, Spain, in August 2019.
M. Thomas reports spotting a pair of Gadwalls on the river
Rhine at Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in October 2018.
M. Eaton reports finding Gadwalls at Titchfield Haven National
Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire, England, and in St. James's
Park, London, England, in September 2019.
R. Normand spotted Gadwalls at Grand
Voyeux Regional Nature Reserve, near Paris, France, in March 2021.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
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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]
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FEMALE |
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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]
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PAIR |
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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]
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]
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PAIR |
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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]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Female Gadwall with a clutch of 8 chicks
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]
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.