The Gadwall 35 
Hybrids of the Gadwall with other surface-feeding ducks are rare. I have 
seen a cross with the Mallard, and in Mr. Barrington's collection there is a 
hybrid between the Gadwall and the Wigeon obtained in the Moy Estuary, 
Ireland. 
Plumage of the Male Gadwall 
Weight, 2 lbs. to 2 lbs. 6 ozs. ; length 20 inches ; wing 10*5 inches. 
Legs, toes, and webs, orange-brown ; bill, black. Head and upper neck grey- 
brown, lower neck grey-black, with white crescentic markings ; breast and 
belly white ; undertail coverts bluish-black ; flanks and vent grey, with black 
vermiculated lines ; tail dark brown with light-coloured edges ; scapulars grey 
with broad black jagged lines ; median wing coverts chestnut ; secondaries 
brown and black, the outer feathers forming a strong white wing spot ; 
primaries brown. 
The Gadwall, though commonly regarded as allied to the Mallard, on 
account of the general similarity of its habits, has really, I think, more 
affinity with the Wigeon. It more closely resembles that species both in 
flight and in physical structure, and — most important of all — its transition of 
plumage is practically alike. 
The young drake passes through the usual phase of colour-change and 
moult, i.e. as the winter advances the first-plumage feathers gradually change 
their pattern and colour, and in time are moulted and replaced by complete 
adult feathers, which slowly make their way into the plumage. All this goes 
on until, by the month of March, we generally see young males in full 
plumage, except all over the breast and vent. The spotted feathers are 
generally retained in the plumage of immatures at nine months, and are only 
gradually moulted from March to May, when the fresh flush of the new 
feathers of the eclipse comes in, and, on June i, the bird resembles the old 
male, except that, like the Wigeon, the wings have not yet been moulted and 
are much duller in colour. 
