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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

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Similar species

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

Physical description 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.

Taxonomy, classification See Gadwall at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 . 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.

Sightings 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.

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]

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]

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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