Gadwall

Description: GGadwalls are ducks of a medium size that do not have much coloration to their plumage. The males are usually gray to brown with a white stomach and a black hind end. When flying, the wings can be seen to have white and nutmeg colors with black areas as well. The bill is gray and it has yellow feet and legs. Males have a short call and also a low sounding whistle. Female gadwalls have a similar appearance to the males but have a rougher brown appearance, a yellow colored bill with spots, and a smaller white area on their wings. Her call is higher than that of a mallard as well.

Breeding: Gadwall will breed near wetlands that are flooded regularly or constantly, preferring to stay near grasses for nesting and can be found in the prairie states of the US and Canada. Large populations are found breeding in wetland areas of the Great Basin as well. Gadwall will typically breed later than other duck species. The female will nest in wetlands of low lying flooded fields and she will lay about 7 to 12 eggs per season.

Migrating and Wintering: Gadwall can be found all over the bottom two thirds of the US in winter months, with a large population of them living along the Mississippi Flyway. They can be found in many states east of the Rocky Mountains, inhabiting ponds, lakes, fresh and brackish estuaries, marshes, and swamps. They are often found living with or near wigeons and coots.

Population: The current gadwall population estimates predict its numbers to be at an all time high. They also did not see significant population losses through the 1970’s and 1980’s when many other duck species saw decreases.

Food habits: Gadwalls will eat mostly aquatic vegetation. This allows them to eat further from shore when compared to other ducks that need to eat food that grows in shallower water. They can be seen with their hind ends up in the air while eating vegetation that grows beneath the surface of the water, things such as pondweeds, widgeon grass, and algae as well as the seeds of pondweeds, bulrush, and spike rush. They also eat invertebrates and midges.

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