Gadwall Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesGadwall
Male
Males are intricately patterned with gray, brown, and black. Note the black rump patch.
© Daniel Pettersson / Macaulay LibraryStockholms län [SE-01], November 08, 2020Female
Often looks square-headed with a steep forehead. Females resemble female Mallards, but with a thinner, darker bill.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 07, 2020Adult male and adult female
© DAVID BROWN / Macaulay LibraryNew York, October 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
Male and female
Male in flight shows a small white patch in the secondaries of the wing, reduced in the female.
© Jeremiah Trimble / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 11, 2017Male and female
The female is much browner than the male, with an orange rather than black bill.
© JOHN KIRK / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 10, 2017Female and chick
Young juveniles are fluffy, with a mostly dark body and yellowish face with dark cap and eyeline.
© Bridget Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 15, 2020Adult male and adult female
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 08, 2014Not all videos have sound
Habitat
Occurs in a wide variety of wetland habitats.
© Ken Milender / Macaulay LibraryWisconsin, April 22, 2017Similar SpeciesMallard
Female (Northern)
Female Mallards have a blue speculum that male and female Gadwalls lack.
© Steeve R. Baker / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, April 02, 2017Similar SpeciesAmerican Wigeon
Female
Female American Wigeons have a smaller bill than Gadwalls that is grayish (not orange). Wigeons have rounder heads while Gadwalls have flatter heads.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, February 28, 2015Similar SpeciesAmerican Wigeon
Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding male American Wigeons show white on the upper part of the wing while Gadwall show white only on the inner part of the secondaries.
© Esme Rosen / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 23, 2012Similar SpeciesAmerican Wigeon
Breeding Male
American Wigeons have rustier colored bodies than Gadwall. Males have a white or buffy crown that Gadwalls lack.
© Karl Krueger / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, February 06, 2016Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Breeding male
Male Blue-winged teals have a white crescent on the face that Gadwalls lack.
© Dave Spier / Macaulay LibrarySouth Carolina, February 23, 2006Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Female/nonbreeding male
Female/nonbreeding male Blue-winged Teals are smaller than Gadwall with a rounder head. They also lack the white patch on the inner primaries seen on Gadwalls.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2015Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Breeding male (American)
Green-winged Teals are smaller than Gadwalls with a chestnut and green head.
© Jeff Stacey / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 22, 2017Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Female/nonbreeding male
Green-winged Teals are smaller than Gadwalls with a rounder head. Female Green-winged Teals have a buffy streak at the rear that Gadwalls lack.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 21, 2011Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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