Gadwall

Anas strepera

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

48-58 cm (19-23") Fairly common and widespread. Open lakes, marshes, ponds, rivers. Surface feeder but dives regularly.

Male: plain light brownish head; grayish overall body; black undertail; yellow feet; dark bill; on land or water it often shows a white spot on the hind edge of the wing.

Female: mottled brown overall similar to Black Duck and female Mallard but has a white belly and on land or water it often shows a white spot on the hind edge of the wing; gray upper bill has orange at edge; yellow feet.

In flight, white belly and speculum - no other dabbling duck has such a white patch on upper wing.

Song: low whistling "bek", soft quacks.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Dan Dzurisin

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

Credit: ayuwje08

Pair of Gadwall

Credit: Bob Ford

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Gadwall (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 3

What color was the UNDERSURFACE of the wing as seen in flight ?: Light · Unknown
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:717-gadwall-female:1:1 Source: 717 Gadwall (Female), row 1

Gadwall (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 3

What color was the UNDERSURFACE of the wing as seen in flight ?: Light · Unknown
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: Black, dark gray or dark · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:716-gadwall-male:1:1 Source: 716 Gadwall (Male), row 1