Anas strepera - The Gadwall

 The Gadwall

By Lachlan Royle

Distribution 

The Gadwall is a species of waterfowl that can be found throughout the British isles although scarcer in some places than others with an Amber conservation status. There are currently estimated to be roughly 1,300 breeding pairs within the UK and 31,000 individuals that overwinter here. Outside of the UK they are a relatively widespread species that can be found in most western European countries, some individuals will then migrate south to spend the winter in north Africa. Drake Gadwalls have very distinctive dappled Grey plumage whilst the females look rather similar to that of a female mallard but with a paler head and darker tail plumage whilst also being slighter in size. I have often thought that a drake gadwalls patterns are underappreciated and they are a beautiful species of wildfowl, one of my very favourite. 

Behaviour 

The male Gadwall at UEA with his Mallard partner 

Gadwalls go through a moulting stage twice a year and are also interesting in that they make a wide array of sounds, some terms that birders use for them may seem unusual but they are often described as grunting and whistling as well as the stereotypical duck call of a 'quack'. Like many other wildfowl species Gadwalls are monogamous, at least all but one individual at UEA seem to be anyway. As a result they remain with their partner through the breeding season.

UEA's Bachelor 

For the last 3 years UEA and surrounding areas have played the home of a rather interesting throuple that consisted of a Male and Female Mallard and a Male Gadwall. From what I have been told by others here before me the Male Gadwall has kept the pair of Mallards very close company, that is until April of this year, I was fortunate enough to watch the Male Gadwall chase off the Male Mallard despite being a fair jot smaller and begin courting the Female, she returned this courtship so over the next year it is worth keeping your eyes peeled around UEA for any interesting hybrid ducklings.