Males are finely patterned gray-brown with a conspicuous black rear end.

Females are mottled brown, with orange along the edges of a dark bill.

A white wing patch may show at rest and is useful in flight.

Subtle colors reward a closer look

An adult male can look merely gray-brown at a distance. A better view reveals fine feather patterning and a sharply contrasting black rear end. Look for the square-headed profile and a bill slimmer than a Mallard's rather than waiting for bright green or blue plumage. ^{[1] [3]}

Give the brown birds equal attention

Females have brown-and-buff patterning and a dark bill edged with orange. Both sexes show white in the wing, although that patch is not always exposed at rest. Compare the shape and bill with our Mallard guide; one brown duck silhouette is not enough. ^[1]

Wetlands need a nesting margin

The female hides a ground nest in tall grasses or brush, often choosing an island when available. She shapes a shallow hollow, adds nearby plant material, and lines the cup with down. Vegetated land beside a pond matters as well as the water itself. ^[2]

A clutch contains 7–12 eggs. Incubation lasts about 24–27 days, and the downy young are ready to leave within a day or two of hatching. Please avoid walking through dense nesting cover along the shoreline. ^[2]

Occasional food thieves

A Gadwall may take food brought to the surface by a diving duck or American Coot. Its feeding opportunities can therefore depend partly on another bird's work underwater. ^[3]

Egg production changes the menu

A laying female produces approximately one egg per day. She increases her intake of invertebrates to help meet the nutritional demands of the developing clutch. ^[3]

Pairing before spring

Pairs can form as early as late fall. Two birds staying together in winter may already be partners for the coming breeding season, not simply temporary neighbors in the flock. ^[1]