Gadwall

The Gadwall is a casual visitor to campus: up to six were seen between 19 Dec 2011 and 18 Feb 2012 in the flooded basins around Badger Hill. It is a fairly common winter visitor and an uncommon breeder throughout southern California where it can be found on ponds, lakes, and marshes.The adult male Gadwall can be identified by its black bill, brown head, mostly gray body, and black rump. Females are mottled brown overall with a mostly orange bill, very similar to female Mallards. Both sexes have a white patch on the trailing edge of the wing close to the body.