The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) is a widespread and ubiquitous dabbling duck in the Anatidae family. Except during its courtship show, the gadwall is a silent duck.
Quick Overview: Mareca Strepera – Gadwall
Body size: Around 19-23 in (48-58 cm) and a weight of 1000 g (35.27 oz)
Main colors: Gray-Brown, Gray, Black, White, Chestnut-Brown, Yellow
Range: Throughout the United States
Migratory Bird: Yes
Best time of the year to see in the U.S.: January, February, December
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Gadwall Description
Their heads and necks are grayish-brown, their bodies are consistently grayish, and their tails are black. Their wing bars are white, and they have a chestnut-brown patch on their central wing coverts. Their beaks are a deep gray color with yellow feet.
Size
These birds have a length of 19-23 in (48-58 cm) and a weight of 1000 g (35.27 oz). Their wings could range from 31-36 in (79-91 cm).
Feeding
Their primary source of plant material is aquatic plant leaves and stems. Gadwalls will also consume insects, crabs, amphibians, mollusks, and fish in addition to their plant-based diet.
Habitat
Gadwalls like breading settings such as marshes, sloughs, ponds, and small lakes with grasslands in both fresh and brackish water. They are more numerous in small prairie marshes than they are in temporary water regions, deep marshes, and open water marshes.
Behavior
Gadwalls are sociable ducks that migrate in flocks. From September in Alaska through the beginning of October in the Prairie-Pothole regions and other southern places, they will depart from their nesting habitats in the north. Some weather occurrences will serve as the trigger for migration timing.
Mareca Strepera Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Anseriformes
- Family: Anatidae
- Genus: Mareca
- Species: Mareca strepera
Best time of the year to see
The best time to see these birds in the United States is during the winter season (December to February).
Distribution of the Gadwall in the USA
Gadwalls breed throughout northern Europe, the Palearctic region, and central North America. This bird looks to be increasing its range into eastern North America.
The Gadwall can be found in the following states in the United States – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
