Mareca strepera
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Mass
~920 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Aquatic plants
How to recognize it
The gadwall has a quiet, understated look. In breeding plumage, the drake is especially easy to notice by its overall grey tone, dark rear end, and the bright wing patch that stands out in flight.
It is usually a calm, quiet duck, except during courtship. Then the male stretches up, bobs his head and tail, and gives a deep, rough call, while the female answers with a sharper quack.
It favors open water with shallow feeding areas and dense fringe vegetation. It mainly eats aquatic plants, and in winter it moves to coasts and bays, where it often joins mixed flocks.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The gadwall has a quiet, understated look. In breeding plumage, the drake is especially easy to notice by its overall grey tone, dark rear end, and the bright wing patch that stands out in flight.
It is usually a calm, quiet duck, except during courtship. Then the male stretches up, bobs his head and tail, and gives a deep, rough call, while the female answers with a sharper quack.
It favors open water with shallow feeding areas and dense fringe vegetation. It mainly eats aquatic plants, and in winter it moves to coasts and bays, where it often joins mixed flocks.
