A gray-brown male gadwall walking on a mudflat. — Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Gadwall

Mareca strepera

A gray-brown dabbling duck whose plain look hides finely patterned feathers; its numbers have grown with wetland protection.

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About the Gadwall

Gadwalls are 18 to 22 inches long, weigh 17 to 44 ounces and have a 33- to 37-inch wingspan. Males have finely patterned gray, brown and black feathers; females look like female mallards with thinner bills. They live on ponds, lakes and marshes in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. They eat mostly the leaves and stems of water plants.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Mareca strepera^[1]
Size: 18 to 22 inches long; 33- to 37-inch wingspan.^[1]
Weight: 17 to 44 ounces.^[1]
Lifespan: Usually 5 to 10 years.^[1]
Diet: Mostly leaves and stems of water plants, plus some snails, crabs and insects.^[1]
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, marshes and wetlands with plenty of plants.^[1]
Where it lives: North of the equator in North America, Iceland, Europe, Africa and Asia.^[1]
Group life: Small to medium flocks; pairs in the breeding season.^[1]
Babies: 8 to 12 eggs, incubated for 24 to 27 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025).^[2]

Fun facts

Gadwalls sometimes steal food from coots and other ducks.^[1]
Gadwall numbers have increased a lot since the 1980s.^[1]
Young gadwalls can fly at 7 to 8 weeks old.^[1]

Vocabulary

dabbling duck: A duck that feeds at the water's surface, often tipping its head down and tail up.
plumage: A bird's feathers.
clutch: A group of eggs laid at one time.
incubate: To keep eggs warm so they can hatch.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Gadwall.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/gadwall (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Mareca strepera (Gadwall).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680149/154562590 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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