Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Gadwalls favor shallow ponds and marshy areas around the globe. They range across most of North America. Breeding mostly in the Great Plains, though they are permanent residents in several western states. Some spend winters throughout Mexico. These birds range not only in the Americas, they breed in the midlatitudes of Europe and Asia while wintering in southern Asia and northern Africa.
The male Gadwall may not be as “showy” as some other ducks, but their appearance is clean and economical. Population increases have resulted from the past quarter century’s attention to restoring wetlands and nesting habitat.
Researchers recognise two subspecies of Gadwall:
- M. s. strepera breeds in much of the world between 40°N and 60°N, and migrates south in the winter.
- M. s. couesi lives on a few islands in the central Pacific Ocean.
Though not always clearly visible, I try to look for a whitish patch at the back of their wings near their body. It is usually more prominent in the drakes than the hens. I’ve met these ducks in California, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Imperial Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:31 15:34 |
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Location:
Imperial Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X0981-Gadwall |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Pair at the Visitor Center on the north edge of Jackson, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:16 12:39 |
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Location:
Jackson Visitor Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X2843-Gadwall |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:26 15:41 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X4944-Gadwall |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: "The Ponds" adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County 2010-01-06. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:06 11:42 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD4964.Gadwall |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 15:56 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD5852.Gadwall |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Colusa NWR, near Williams, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:18 15:18 |
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Location:
Colusa |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_5356Gadwall |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Colusa NWR, near Williams, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:18 15:19 |
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Location:
Colusa |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_5359Gadwall |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Colusa NWR, near Williams, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:18 15:19 |
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Location:
Colusa |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_5363Gadwall |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Colusa NWR, near Williams, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:18 15:54 |
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Location:
Colusa |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/9.5, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_5400Gadwall |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:04 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6282-Gadwall |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 16:14 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD5909.Gadwall |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: At the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:55 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X1486 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Juvenile bird at Malheur NWR in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:15 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Gadwall-Juvenile_D5X9120-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Malheur NWR is in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:33 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: Gadwall-Hen_D5X9263-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Malheur NWR is in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:25 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: Gadwall-Hen_D5X9169-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Older chicks at Malheur NWR in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:02 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: Gadwall-Chicks_D5X9008-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: (Anas strepera) Pair aptured on 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 12:43 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: Gadwall-Pair_D506510-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: (Anas strepera) Airborne capture on 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 13:17 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: Gadwall_D506763-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 11:48 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X8632-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: I guess it was time to go. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 11:51 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X8659-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: The Gadwall I saw on the water were all males. The Rio Grande Nature Center is one of my favorite locations to visit when I’m in Albuquerque. This was my first winter visit, and it did not disappoint. On this day I found Bufflehead on the water with Ruddy Ducks, Gadwall, Northern Shovelers, Mallards and geese. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:17 12:28 |
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Location:
Rio Grande Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X8015-RioGrandeNatureCenter-ABQ |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Gadwall were among the throngs of ducks at the Ibis Pond. I spent Friday exploring a jewel of birding in south Texas; Estero Llano Grande State Park. I couldn’t visit this place last spring because of the pandemic. It is a wonderful place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:22 14:07 |
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Location:
Estero Llano Grande State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X4463-EsteroLlano |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Gadwall shared the pond with grebes, teal, coots and gallinules. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is only five miles from where I camp in Brownsville. My last visit was late January 2021 and felt it was time to get reacquainted. I couldn’t have picked a better day. There was glorious weather and wonderful birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:19 10:54 |
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Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X3882-SabalPalmSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Gadwall shared the pond with grebes, teal, coots and gallinules. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is only five miles from where I camp in Brownsville. My last visit was late January 2021 and felt it was time to get reacquainted. I couldn’t have picked a better day. There was glorious weather and wonderful birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:19 10:55 |
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Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Gadwall_D5X3884-SabalPalmSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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