Gadwall - Anas strepera

The Gadwall is resident in Wiltshire and during winter numbers are boosted with winter arrivals.

Habitat

Cotswold Water Park and Langford Lakes are good places to spot the Gadwall in Wiltshire as their preferred habitats include flooded gravel pits and lakes.

Description

A small and compact duck, the males have subdued markings which when seen close up are made up of very fine barring and speckling; their heads are brown with these fine markings whilst their bodies are grey with the fine markings. They have a dark bill and black rear end which helps with identification. During the non-breeding season the male’s plumage is more similar to the females.

The females are light brown with dark brown markings. The bill is dark in colour with an obvious orange stripe along the side. Both sexes have an obvious white wing patch (but is more obvious in males) that can be seen when at rest or during flight. The males have a hoarse nasal call and the females a typical quack.

Biology

Stems, seeds and shoots make up the main diet, but during the nesting season adults may also eat molluscs and insects. Nests are built on the ground a little way from water amongst dense vegetation to offer protection from predators. Usually 8-12 eggs are laid from May to June and after a month the eggs hatch.