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Gadwall

Anas streperaOrder: ANSERIFORMES Family: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Codes: Common Name: GADW Scientific Name: ANASTR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 175073
Least Concern
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Gadwall: The breeding male Gadwall has a gray body, black rump and undertail coverts, white belly, and rust-brown shoulders. The head and neck are gray-brown and the bill is gray. The legs and feet are yellow.
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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
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Overview

Gadwall: Large dabbling duck with finely barred gray body, black rump and undertail coverts, white belly, and rust-brown shoulders. Head and neck are gray-brown; bill is gray. Wings have black-bordered white speculum most visible in flight. Legs and feet are yellow. Fast direct flight.


Range and Habitat

Gadwall: Breeds near seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands, mainly in the shortgrass, tallgrass, and mixed prairie regions of the U.S. and Canada. Spends winters in southern two-thirds of the U.S., with greatest concentrations found in the Central and Mississippi Flyways; also a common winter visitor to Guatemala. Preferred habitats include large, shallow ponds with lots of marsh plants.

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Topo Map: Duck-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"quack"

Interesting Facts

 The Gadwall duck was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.

 It is not as gregarious as some dabbling ducks outside the breeding season and tends to form only small flocks.

 A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Irina Rud-Volga

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Range Map for Gadwall

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Family Surface-feeding Duck (Anatidae)_blue
Species Anas strepera
Length19 - 23 Inches
Wingspan33.5 Inches

Gadwall

Gadwall: Large dabbling duck with finely barred gray body, black rump and undertail coverts, white belly, and rust-brown shoulders. Head and neck are gray-brown; bill is gray. Wings have black-bordered white speculum most visible in flight. Legs and feet are yellow. Fast direct flight.

● Song: "quack"

● Foraging & Feeding: Gadwall: Feeds on pondweeds, naiads, widgeon grass, watermilfoil, algae, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates; forages in deeper water than most other dabbling ducks.

● Breeding & nesting: Gadwall: Seven to fifteen creamy white eggs are laid in a nest made of grass and weeds, lined with down, and usually hidden in dense weeds or grass near water. Incubation ranges from 24 to 27 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Gadwall: Adult male in breeding plumage is unmistakable.

Flight Pattern

Fast direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Gadwall Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Gadwall: Breeds near seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands, mainly in the shortgrass, tallgrass, and mixed prairie regions of the U.S. and Canada. Spends winters in southern two-thirds of the U.S., with greatest concentrations found in the Central and Mississippi Flyways; also a common winter visitor to Guatemala. Preferred habitats include large, shallow ponds with lots of marsh plants.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationYes but uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight35.2 Ounces
Duck-like BodyX
Undertail covertsX
Small feathers that cover the areas where the retrices (tail feathers) attach to the rump.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
RumpX
The area between the uppertail coverts and the back of the bird.
SpeculumX
The brightly colored area on the wing (secondaries of the wing) on several duck species.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX