Common Name: Gadwell

Scientific Name: Mareca Strepera.

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What to look for?  Male Gadwalls are patterned with gray, brown, and black, with a distinctive black rump patch, while females are mottled brown with a gray and orange bill. Both sexes have white belly feathers and yellow feet.

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Where can they be found at Carillon Stonegate Pond? First, any sighting will be rare. You may find Gadwall here periodically in early spring floating on our ponds.

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How big are they? The Gadwell averages 20 inches in length. And their wingspan is approximately 33 inches. They weigh approximately 2 pounds.

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What are their flight patterns? Gadwalls are known for their strong and agile flight, allowing them to maneuver effectively.  They fly swiftly with rapid wingbeats.

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How else do they behave? Gadwalls are dabbling ducks that feed on submerged plants by tipping forward in the water. They rarely dive and often engage in complex displays for communication. They are known to steal food from diving ducks.

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What’s for dinner? Gadwalls are primarily vegetarians, consuming submerged aquatic vegetation and occasionally invertebrates, especially during the breeding season.

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Where do they take up residence? Gadwell breed mainly in prairie potholes and other well-vegetated wetlands. During migration and winter, they are found in marshes, ponds, and lakes.

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Where do they breed and nest? Gadwalls are monogamous in their breeding behavior and form pairs during fall migration and nest in dense vegetation near water. The female constructs the nest, lays approximately 10 eggs, and incubates the eggs for 24-27 days. Fledglings leave nest shortly after hatching. Young Gadwells are capable of flight 2 months after hatching.

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Where do they migrate? Gadwell are migratory birds. Gadwalls migrate from the central plains of the United States and Canada to the central and southern United States and Mexico, usually flying at night.

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What is their conservation status? Gadwall populations have increased due to conservation efforts, with an estimated 4.4 million individuals. They are the third most hunted duck species (after Mallard and Green-winged Teal). Partners in Flight  rates them 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, indicating a species of low conservation concern.

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Do they make any interesting sounds? Male Gadwall make short, deep, reedy calls referred to as “burps,” given in steady succession while flying. They also make high whistles. Females quack like Mallards, but with a slightly higher pitch. Here is a link to the sounds of the Gadwall.

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Interesting Facts About the Gadwell:

• Gadwall sometimes steal food from American Coots and from other ducks.

• Female Gadwall produce an egg a day while they are laying their 7–12-egg clutches.

• The oldest known Gadwall was over 19 years old.

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For more information on Gadwall and sources of information used in this blog (these are the sources that I am using to learn as I blog), please visit All About Birds , Audubon Society, University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web, and the Illinois DNR.  And the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides a wonderful source of information for anyone interested in learning more about birds.

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The Carillon at Stonegate community is very fortunate to have a variety of wetland, forest and prairie environments conducive to a variety of birds and other wildlife, plants and insects. Our community and the Kane County Forest Preserve do an exceptional job in maintaining this natural environment – both for the benefit of the birds and wildlife and for our residents to enjoy.

 

Take a hike and see what you can find – and identify!