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Difference between revisions of "Gadwall" - BirdForum Opus

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{{Stub}}
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[[Image:IMG 8902 1024x696 2 .jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|carann|carann}}<br />[[Suffolk]], February 2014]]
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;[[:Category:Anas|Anas]] strepera
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;[[:Category:Mareca|Mareca]] strepera
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[[Image:Gadwall.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by pauliev69]]
 
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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46-58 cm (18-22 in)<br />
 +
*Yellowish-orange legs
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*Small white patch on hind-wing
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*White belly, visible in flight
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'''Male'''
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*Greyish body
 +
*Noticeable vermiculations on breast
 +
*Brownish tertials
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*Black stern
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'''Female'''
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*Brown plumage, mottled and streaked
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*Orange sides to bill
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[[Image:Gadwall Female Churchtown April 12.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|tacumshin|tacumshin}}<br />Carnsore, [[Ireland]], April 2012]]
 +
====Similar Species====
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Female is easily confused with the slightly larger female [[Mallard]]. Look for white patch on hindwing and orange edges to the bill.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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Breeding range very patchy and discontinuous in most of Europe. Scattered pockets in Iceland, the British Isles and in most Continental countries from western France to Russia where becomes more widespread and range is more continuous. Absent from Scandinavia, except a small part of east Sweden, and from much of the Mediterranean region but small numbers breed in Morocco and Iberia, Italy, the Balkans and Turkey. Some populations, as in Britain, are descended from introduced stock. Recently bred for the first time in the Channel Islands. Breeds widely across temperate Asia to northern China and may breed on Hokkaido. In North America breeds in central and southern Alaska, western and south-central Canada and the north-central and western USA south to California and Texas.  
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'''Breeding''' range very patchy and discontinuous in most of [[Europe]]. Scattered pockets in [[Iceland]], the [[British Isles]] and in most Continental countries from western [[France]] to [[Russia]] where it becomes more widespread and the range is more continuous. Absent from [[Scandinavia]], except a small part of east [[Sweden]], and from much of the Mediterranean region but small numbers breed in [[Morocco]] and [[Iberia]], [[Italy]], the Balkans and [[Turkey]]. Some populations, as in [[Britain]], are descended from introduced stock. Recently bred for the first time in the [[Channel Islands]]. Breeds widely across temperate [[Asia]] to northern [[China]] and may breed on Hokkaido. In [[North America]] breeds in central and southern [[Alaska]], western and south-central [[Canada]] and the north-central and western [[USA]] south to [[California]] and [[Texas]].  
  
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Resident in much of western European range, except Icelandic birds which winter in Britain, but from central Europe to Asia mainly a summer visitor. In winter becomes more widespread in Britain, western Europe and around the Mediterranean. Winters in small numbers in North Africa, notably in Tunisia and in the Nile Valley, rarely south of the Sahara. North American birds winter throughout southern half of USA and south to Guatemala.
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'''Resident''' in much of western European range, except Icelandic birds which winter in Britain, but from central Europe to Asia mainly a summer visitor. In winter becomes more widespread in Britain, western Europe and around the Mediterranean.
  
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'''Winters''' in small numbers in North [[Africa]], notably in [[Tunisia]] and in the Nile Valley, rarely south of the Sahara. [[North America|North American]] birds winter throughout southern half of USA and south to [[Guatemala]].
 +
[[Image:Gadwall 18 10 09.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|markranner|markranner}}<br />Lincolnshire, England, October 2009]]
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Sometimes placed in the genus ''Mareca''.
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Formerly placed in the genus ''[[:Category:Anas|Anas]]''.
−
 
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====Subspecies====
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There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''M. s. strepera'':
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:*Widespread [[Palearctic]] and [[Nearctic]] regions
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*''M. s. couesi'':
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:*Formerly Fanning Islands (central Pacific). Extinct ca 1874
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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====Breeding====
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'''Breeding''': well vegetated swamps and lakes in open lowland areas.<br />
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Well vegetated swamps and lakes in open lowland areas.
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'''Non-breeding''': often on reservoirs and gravel pits, locally also on estuaries.
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====Non-breeding====
 
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Often on reservoirs and gravel pits, locally also on estuaries.
 
−
 
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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A fresh-water surface-feeding duck; very gregarious.
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====Diet====
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Their vegetarian diet consists of the seeds, leaves, roots and the stems of aquatic plants.
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====Vocalisation====
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'''Call''': a wheezy whistle.<br />
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
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#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
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#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
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#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Anas+strepera}}
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{{GSearch|"Mareca strepera" {{!}} "Gadwall"}}
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*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=215&Bird_Image_ID=707 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Anas]]
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{{VSearch|"Mareca strepera" {{!}} "Gadwall"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Mareca]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 23:35, 11 February 2023

Male
Photo © by carann
Suffolk, February 2014
Mareca strepera

Identification

46-58 cm (18-22 in)

  • Yellowish-orange legs
  • Small white patch on hind-wing
  • White belly, visible in flight

Male

  • Greyish body
  • Noticeable vermiculations on breast
  • Brownish tertials
  • Black stern

Female

  • Brown plumage, mottled and streaked
  • Orange sides to bill
Female
Photo © by tacumshin
Carnsore, Ireland, April 2012

Similar Species

Female is easily confused with the slightly larger female Mallard. Look for white patch on hindwing and orange edges to the bill.

Distribution

Breeding range very patchy and discontinuous in most of Europe. Scattered pockets in Iceland, the British Isles and in most Continental countries from western France to Russia where it becomes more widespread and the range is more continuous. Absent from Scandinavia, except a small part of east Sweden, and from much of the Mediterranean region but small numbers breed in Morocco and Iberia, Italy, the Balkans and Turkey. Some populations, as in Britain, are descended from introduced stock. Recently bred for the first time in the Channel Islands. Breeds widely across temperate Asia to northern China and may breed on Hokkaido. In North America breeds in central and southern Alaska, western and south-central Canada and the north-central and western USA south to California and Texas.

Resident in much of western European range, except Icelandic birds which winter in Britain, but from central Europe to Asia mainly a summer visitor. In winter becomes more widespread in Britain, western Europe and around the Mediterranean.

Winters in small numbers in North Africa, notably in Tunisia and in the Nile Valley, rarely south of the Sahara. North American birds winter throughout southern half of USA and south to Guatemala.

Photo © by markranner
Lincolnshire, England, October 2009

Taxonomy

Formerly placed in the genus Anas.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies[1]:

  • M. s. strepera:
  • M. s. couesi:
  • Formerly Fanning Islands (central Pacific). Extinct ca 1874

Habitat

Breeding: well vegetated swamps and lakes in open lowland areas.
Non-breeding: often on reservoirs and gravel pits, locally also on estuaries.

Behaviour

A fresh-water surface-feeding duck; very gregarious.

Diet

Their vegetarian diet consists of the seeds, leaves, roots and the stems of aquatic plants.

Vocalisation

Call: a wheezy whistle.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
  3. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
  5. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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