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Dieren en planten

Ducks   Shoveler   Teal   Shelduck   Mallard duck   Wigeon   Goldeneye   Gadwall   Swimming birds   

Gadwall

size:

46-56 centimeters; 84-95 centimeters wingspan

color (adults):

male: gray pattern with black body
female: light brown, orange bill
both: white square in the wing

food:

primarily (marsh) plants; some aquatic animals (during breeding season)

Dutch status:

nesting bird, migratory, winter guest

Belgian status:

winter guest, many found along the Schelde and tributaries

habitat:

grasslands, marshes, lakes and rivers

reproduction:

9-11 eggs; maturity: 1 year

life span:

record: > 21 years

  • Dut: Krakeend
  • Eng: European gadwall
  • Fren: Canard chipeau
  • Ger: Schnatterente
  • Lat: Anas strepera
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Gadwall, Mark Kilner via www.flickr.com

Gadwall

Gadwalls are often very busy under water, with only their tail sticking out of the water. They look for food on the bottom. Gadwalls are one size smaller than mallard ducks. They are only seen in nature areas, whereas mallards are seen everywhere, particularly city parks.

  • Distribution

    The gadwall is common in the Netherlands and Belgium, particularly during migration season. In the summer, they nest mostly in the Baltic Sea. In the winter, you find them mainly in southern Europe. 

  • Protection
    • Monitoring: Network Ecological Monitoring
    • Dutch legislation: Flora and Fauna Regulation
    • European Agreement: Bird Directive
    • International: Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), Bern Convention, Bonn Convention