Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Gadwall

Mareca strepera

Gadwall (Mareca strepera) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nunavut Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Prince Edward Island

See what's near you right now

The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 916 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Mareca
Species strepera

Where it lives

Widespread

Quick facts

Weight: 916 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Gadwall feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Gadwall is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL widespread.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 916 g, with a wing length of about 25.1 cm and a tail of around 8.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 18.6 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Gadwall — Alarm call

Recorded by David Darrell-Lambert Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Gadwall?

The Gadwall is a very large bird that weighs around 916 g.

Where does the Gadwall live?

The Gadwall is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Gadwall belong to?

The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Gadwall eat?

The Gadwall feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Gadwall migrate?

The Gadwall is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Gadwall endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Gadwall make?

1 real field recording of the Gadwall — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Gadwall's range?

The Gadwall has a mapped global range of about 18.6 million km².