Gadwall

Adult males in breeding plumage appear largely gray with a distinct black rear end (upper and under tail coverts) and a white speculum on the wing, visible in flight. Females are mottled brown, closely resembling a female Mallard, but distinguished by a white speculum and an orange-edged bill. Non-breeding males (eclipse plumage) resemble females but retain darker gray scapulars and back feathers.

Male: Gray body, black rear end, white speculum. Female: Mottled brown body, white wing speculum, dark-edged orange bill.

Length: 46-56 cm (18-22 in), Wingspan: 78-90 cm (31-35 in), Weight: 500-1,000 g (1.1-2.2 lbs)

Females give a loud, Mallard-like quack, though often higher-pitched and with a quicker tempo. Males produce low-pitched burps, whistles, and deep kuck-kuck calls.

Primarily herbivorous, feeding on stems, leaves, seeds, and roots of aquatic plants. Also supplements diet with small fish, snails, and aquatic insects, particularly during breeding season.

Prefers wetland habitats with dense emergent vegetation, such as freshwater marshes, shallow lakes, flooded agricultural fields, and occasionally sheltered coastal lagoons or estuaries.

Migratory in the northern parts of its range, moving south for the winter. Populations in Western Europe and parts of North America may be resident or only undergo short-distance movements.

Nests on the ground in dense vegetation, well-hidden near water. The nest is a shallow depression lined with grass and down feathers. Clutch size is typically 7-12 creamy-white eggs, incubated solely by the female for about 27-28 days.

Female Mallard and Northern Pintail females. The Gadwall is best distinguished by its white wing speculum (which Mallards also have, but Gadwalls lack the strong blue-purple border) and its distinct orange-edged bill in females and black rear end in males.

Acts as both a seed disperser and a consumer of aquatic vegetation and invertebrates, helping to control aquatic plant growth and serving as a vital part of wetland food webs for predators.

Least Concern, with a stable and widespread global population.

Look for them in quiet wetlands, lakes, and marshes with abundant emergent vegetation. They are often found dabbling near the edges or associating with other duck species. Using binoculars or a spotting scope helps identify the male's distinct black stern and the white wing patch.

Gadwalls are notorious for kleptoparasitism—they frequently steal food from diving ducks like coots and pochards after those birds surface with aquatic vegetation.