Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
- HABITAT - Gadwalls live across the central and western U.S. and Canada. They prefer shallow freshwater habitats such as marshes, prairie potholes, and wet meadows. During migration and in winter, they also use lakes, reservoirs, and sheltered bays. In Ontario, they’re most often seen during spring and fall migrations but are increasingly found breeding in southern wetlands.
- DIET - Gadwalls are dabbling ducks that feed mostly on aquatic vegetation. Their diet includes pondweed, algae, sedges, and grasses. They also eat insects, small crustaceans, and snails, especially during the breeding season. Interestingly, they sometimes steal food from diving ducks like American Coots. Unlike most ducks, Gadwalls occasionally nest far from water.
- FACTS - Male Gadwalls are often mistaken for female ducks due to their subtle coloring, but up close their plumage is finely patterned and elegant. They make a soft, whistling call—much quieter than a Mallard. They are among the few duck species in North America that have shown a steady population increase over the past 50 years.
