Gadwall Drake

Seriously? Just look at this drake. Pretty dapper wouldn’t you say? Pete Dunne calls the Gadwall (Anas strepera) the “Dapper Gray Dabbler.” Click on photos for full sized images.

Gadwall Pair

Pete goes on to state that “the plumage of the male is distinctive. The head and body are overall gray, shot through with subtle brown highlights and bracketed by a small black bill and a very obvious black butt. At extreme distances, the silver rump (actually the tertials of the folded wing) shines with reflected light.”

Gadwall Drake

“Females and immatures are cold brown, contrasting with a grayer head. Bills are black on top, orange along the sides.”

Gadwall Female

“In all plumage, Gadwall shows a square bright white speculum that is obvious in flight and usually winks through the folded wing when the bird is sitting.”

Gadwall Pair In Flight

The fact that they are monogamous and pair up by November, 4 to 5 months before breeding, probably endears them to some.

Gadwall Pair

I found this pair among the Northern Shovelers at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge and watched as they perched atop a log for awhile, preening and scratching.

Gadwall Drake Preening

Gadwall Drake Preening

Gadwall Drake Preening

Gadwall Drake Preening

Dapper indeed!

Gadwall Drake

I’m posting this video I shot at Delevan NWR in case you haven’t seen these elegant ducks in action. Our National Wildlife Refuges are special places where we can observe wildlife in their natural habitats. If you, like millions of other wildlife enthusiasts, enjoy visiting our National Wildlife Refuge System to observe and photograph the hundreds of species that rest and live on our refuges, please join us in supporting the Wildlife Conservation Stamp Project.

References: Dunne, Pete (2006), Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company

Written by Larry
Larry Jordan was introduced to birding after moving to northern California where he was overwhelmed by the local wildlife, forcing him to buy his first field guide just to be able to identify all the species visiting his yard. Building birdhouses and putting up feeders brought the avian fauna even closer and he was hooked. Larry wanted to share his passion for birds and conservation and hatched The Birder's Report in September of 2007. His recent focus is on bringing the Western Burrowing Owl back to life in California where he also monitors several bluebird trails. He is a BirdLife Species Champion and contributes to several other conservation efforts, being the webmaster for Wintu Audubon Society and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Urban Bird Foundation. He is now co-founder of a movement to create a new revenue stream for our National Wildlife Refuges with a Wildlife Conservation Pass.