The Gadwall is another one of the dabbling ducks of the genus Anas. The dabblers prefer shallow or calm waters, mostly eating vegetation and aquatic insects. Often they forage by upending themselves, heads submerged and tails up in the air. In Edmonds look for this species on quiet waters such as the marsh, the Point Edwards pond or Lake Ballinger.

At a distance the Gadwall is a rather plain-looking duck. On closer view the drake reflects subtle but beautiful plumage. As with most dabblers, the hen has a mottled appearance that provides her with the protection of camouflage until she spreads her wings. Her bright white wing patches are crowned with splashes of black and rust.

Although the Gadwall is a dabbler, which eats a lot of plant materials, it also eats mollusks, insects and crustaceans. Gadwall ducklings primarily eat insects at first and later shift to a more plant-based diet.

A Gadwall nest is usually built on dry land near water. It is hidden by dense weeds or grasses. The female builds the nest, which is nothing more than a shallow depression of weeds and grasses and lined with down. The female incubates her 8-11 eggs for more than three weeks before they hatch. She then leads the hatchlings to water where they find their own food. They cannot fly until six to eight weeks of age. The Gadwall is one of the later-nesting ducks. We see many Mallard ducklings on Edmonds waters long before the first Gadwall ducklings appear.

You can hear the vocalizations of a large flock of Gadwalls at this link: https://www.xeno-canto.org/163368.

— By Carol Riddell

Carol Riddell manages the bird education displays, on behalf of Pilchuck Audubon Society and Edmonds Parks & Recreation, at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station