The Gadwall is a duck that rewards a second look. At a glance the drake seems a plain gray dabbler, but up close he is exquisitely patterned in fine gray vermiculations, with a neat black rear end and a warm chestnut wash in the wing. The female resembles a hen Mallard but is trimmer, with a thin orange-edged bill; the surest mark for both sexes is a small square white patch on the inner wing, visible in flight and often at rest — the only dabbling duck to show pure white there.
Gadwall breed in marshes and ponds and have been steadily expanding eastward, so they are an increasingly regular breeding and migrating duck in Michigan's wetlands. They dabble and up-end for aquatic plants, and notably they will steal food from diving ducks and coots, snatching vegetation the divers bring to the surface. Adaptable and quietly handsome, the Gadwall is a duck that many people overlook until they learn to appreciate its subtle detail.
Feeds mostly on aquatic plants — leaves, stems, and seeds — dabbling at the surface and up-ending in the shallows, with some invertebrates taken especially during breeding. It often associates with diving ducks and coots and pirates plant food they bring up from below.
The drake is a finely patterned gray duck with a black rear; the female looks like a slim hen Mallard with a thin orange-sided bill. Both sexes show a small square white wing patch, unique among dabbling ducks, which clinches the identification.
Yes. Gadwall commonly associate with diving ducks and American Coots and snatch aquatic plants those birds bring to the surface, a habit called kleptoparasitism that lets them reach food in deeper water.
Increasingly so. Gadwall have expanded eastward over recent decades and are now a regular breeding and migrating duck on Michigan marshes and ponds, with some staying into winter on open water.
Adult males have a finely vermiculated gray body and black rear end; females, immatures, and eclipse males are mottled brown with an orange-edged bill. The small white speculum square shows on all of them.
Other birds you might be looking at instead.
Pick the park — it takes less than ten seconds.
Start typing the bird's name, then pick it from the list.
Suggest a birding spot to add to the map. I'll review it before it appears.
Thanks! Your suggestion has been sent for review.
Found something wrong or out of date? Tell me what to fix — it goes straight to my inbox. (No email needed.)
Thank you — your note is on its way. I appreciate the help keeping this accurate.