(Picture reproduced courtesy of Smart and Glen/ USFWS)
The Gadwall drake is probably the dullest of the wildfowling quarry ducks when compared to the drakes of the other species, at a distance it appears grey and brown, its white wing patches however are a conspicuous feature. The black rear end does help with identification, the chest being grey while the underbody is white. The undersides of the wings are pale towards the leading edge and darker towards the rear. In size the Gadwall is similar to the Mallard and although both have orange legs when upending the Gadwall can be identified by its legs being more yellow in appearance than the Mallard. Gadwall breed in Europe and north America but are sparsely distributed, over wintering in central and western areas of the UK mainly although some do winter in north eastern areas of England. These are exclusively freshwater ducks and are rarely seen on estuaries. Water plants of various types form their main diet and unlike most ducks seeds are not a food preference, during breeding season they will eat animal matter.