Drab grayish brown in color, both male and female have a very white patch on the rear edge of their wings (correctly called the speculum).
NOTE: This photo also shows an American
Coot (white-beaked bird) in the background.
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Found in freshwater ponds and marshes of the
Imperial Valley, this "dabbling" duck feeds tail-up.
Drab grayish brown in color, both male and female have a very white patch on the rear edge of their wings (correctly called the speculum). NOTE: This photo also shows an American
Coot (white-beaked bird) in the background.
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If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.htmlThey present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Gadwall
OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:
Gadwall Identification - The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Web site has a waterfowl information page that contains images and a link to more information from the Utah Conservation Data Center.
Waterfowl Fun and Facts: Gadwall - Mark Shultz of Austin, Texas, carves decoys for sale at his "Adopt a Duck" Web site which includes this informative page about the Gadwall. He also has some nice photographs of birds that he allows you to freely use - including this one of two Gadwalls showing the characteristic white speculum on its wing.
The following "WAV" format sound file is copyrighted by Doug Van Gausig of Sedona, Arizona, as part of the "Sounds of Nature" Web site:
- http://www.naturesongs.com/gadwall1.wav - Gadwall Duck
This site is maintained by:
Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us
