Puddle Duck
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
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The 'gray duck' — plain-looking, ultra-common, and a decoy sucker.
2026 population status
2.35M breeding birds -3% vs. last year
Above the long-term average.
See the full 2026 survey numbers →Identification
- Drake: understated gray with fine vermiculation, a black rear end, and a white speculum that flashes in flight.
- Hen: mottled brown like a mallard but smaller, with the same white speculum and an orange-edged bill.
- Nasal, raspy 'mehp' calls; smaller and quicker on the wing than mallards.
Habitat
Shallow marsh, ponds, sloughs, and flooded fields with submerged vegetation to graze.
Behavior
Work the spread in tight, buzzy little bunches. Far less wary than mallards — they'll dump into decoys with little coaxing, often the bread-and-butter bird of a marsh hunt.
Decoy setup
Mixed puddle-duck spread on shallow water. Gadwall aren't picky; a clean, natural-looking spread does the job.
Calling
Raspy gadwall-specific 'mehp' or a soft hen mallard call. Low volume — they respond to a relaxed, feeding sound.
What gets them moving
Steady cold weatherNew waterCalm mornings
Ready to set up on gadwall?
Build a decoy spread and blind plan for your water and today's wind.
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