G A D W A L L 177 



while that of the Gadwall is on the hindpart, and not always visible. The Gadwall 

 sits low and flat on the water, while the Baldpate rests buoyantly, seemingly 

 more alert, with tail held high; the Baldpate shows a conspicuous white patch 

 on flanks, lacking in the Gadwall. The slender appearance of the female Gadwall 

 may cause confusion with the female Pintail. 



IN FLIGHT. Gadwalls fly in small, compact flocks, swiftly and in a direct 

 course; the body seems slender, the wing-beats quick and the wings appear long 

 and pointed. As the Gadwall is the only River 

 and Pond Duck with a white speculum, this is 

 the outstanding distinguishing mark for both 

 sexes, and is very evident when flying. (White 

 wing-patch of Baldpate is on forepart of wing.) 

 The black rump of the male Gadwall is conspic- 

 uous in flight, and the red wing-patch and yellow 

 feet are visible with glasses, and are good identi- 

 fying features. 



VOICE. The male has a loud call, hack- 

 hack, a deep reed-like note, whack, and a shrill 

 whistled call; the female has a loud quack, 

 pitched higher and not so raucous or loud as 

 that of the female Mallard. 



LIFE STORY 



The Gadwall probably has a wider world-distribution than any 

 other duck; South America and Australia are the only two places where 

 it is not to be found. On this continent it is primarily a bird of the 

 western and central regions, but nowhere in its range can it be called 

 abundant. It is peculiar in that its distribution is very irregular; it is 

 reasonably plentiful in certain localities and entirely absent in others. In 

 spite of the fact that it is the easiest of all ducks to identify, in either sex 

 (it is the only Surface-feeding Duck with a white speculum), it is very 

 often confused with the female and young male of the Pintail, with 

 which species it frequently associates; they are both indiscriminately 

 called "grey ducks." Perhaps this unfortunate confusion of the species 

 accounts to some extent for the reported scarcity of the Gadwall. 



"As the Gadwall is one of the later migrants northward in the 

 spring, not appearing usually until the ice is all out of the ponds, so it is 

 also one of the earlier ducks to leave in the fall and start on its short 

 flight to its winter home in the Southern States, principally in the lower 

 Mississippi Valley and in Mexico. The Gadwall is primarily a fresh- 

 water duck, breeding far in the interior and wintering principally in the 

 inland ponds, marshy lakes, sloughs, and swamps, where it can find 

 mild weather and plenty of food; but it frequents to some extent the 

 brackish pools and estuaries along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, 

 where it is very common" (Bent, 1923). 



"The mating flight of the Gadwall is always interesting and is seen 

 constantly when the birds are on their breeding grounds. . . . The 



