Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around 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 (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Mareca
- Species strepera
Quick facts
- Weight
- 916 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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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
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.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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