Gadwall

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Gadwall, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Amber listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(II), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

Since wildfowlers released a wing-clipped pair of migrants in Norfolk in 1850, far from their native UK breeding distribution in Scotland, the breeding distribution of Gadwall has expanded and now covers much of lowland Britain, though with many gaps still in the west of the country (Balmer et al. 2013). Range expansion has been rapid since the 1950s. Numbers have recently surpassed the level where a BBS trend can be calculated: further strong increases are indicated and the population may even have redoubled over the latest 10-year period. Winter numbers, which include many continental visitors, have also risen strongly in England, Wales and Scotland, but show recent signs of levelling off in England (since around 2010/11) and have fluctuated in Northern Ireland (WeBS: Frost et al. 2020).

UK breeding population	+223% increase (1995–2022)
UK winter population	+70% increase (1996/97–2021/22)

The winter distribution of Gadwall is wider than in the breeding season due to dispersal from natal areas and the arrival of migrants from Iceland, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and central Europe. This is particularly evident in southwest England, coastal Wales and Ireland, and Shetland.

From the former strongholds in East Anglia, Fife and Lough Neagh recorded during the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas, the breeding range of Gadwall has expanded throughout much of the lowlands of central, eastern and northwest England, eastern Scotland, Orkney and the Uists.

Gadwalls are present year-round, recorded on up to 10% of complete lists in winter.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	21 years 3 months 29 days (set in 1986)
Typical Lifespan	4 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.72   (Male: 0.752±0.054 Female: 0.69±0.065)

Wing Length	Adults	264.3±10.3 | Range 247–280mm, N=198
	Juveniles	254.1±13.9 | Range 231-271mm, N=29
	Males	271.7±6.9 | Range 260–284mm, N=106
	Females	255.7±6.1 | Range 245–265mm, N=91

Body Weight	Adults	810±105 | Range 650–980g, N=183
	Juveniles	749±90.2 | Range 610–920g, N=29
	Males	840±98.2 | Range 675–990g, N=95
	Females	778±103.2 | Range 630–980g, N=87

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	F*
Field Codes	2-letter: GA | 5-letter code: GADWA | Euring: 1820

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

There is little good evidence available regarding the drivers of the breeding population increase in this species in the UK.

Further information on causes of change

No further information is available.

Information about conservation actions

Many of the current breeding populations probably descended from released birds, although the species is a native breeder in Scotland and it is unclear whether any of the introduced breeding populations have been joined by wild birds. As an increasing species, no specific conservation actions are currently required for Gadwall, although actions to maintain and create wetland habitats and to provide nesting sites for other wildfowl are also likely to support this species.