Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Gadwalls are notorious 'kleptoparasites'; they often wait for American Coots to surface with aquatic vegetation and then steal it right out of their beaks.
- Scientific name
- Mareca strepera
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Mareca
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Shallow freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes, and estuaries with abundant emergent vegetation.
- Diet
- Primarily herbivorous, consuming aquatic plants, seeds, stems, and occasional small invertebrates.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, Northern Africa
- Size
- Length: 46-56 cm; Wingspan: 78-90 cm; Weight: 850-1000g
- Lifespan
- 5-10 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, habitat degradation, lead poisoning from legacy shot, and climate change affecting breeding grounds.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain a respectful distance of 20-30 feet to avoid causing the bird to take flight. If you find an injured bird, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. Wash hands after any contact with wetland water or feathers to prevent the spread of avian bacteria.
The gadwall ( Mareca strepera ) is a common and widespread dabbling duck in the family Anatidae.
Photo: Luke, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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