Common Name: Gadwall
Scientific Name: Mareca strepera
Family: Anatidae
Nepali Name: Khadkhade Haas ( खडखडे हाँस )
Size: 39-43 cm
Location: Taudaha, Kathmandu 

The Gadwall is a medium-sized dabbling duck regularly recorded in wetlands across Nepal during the winter months. It occurs in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and marshes from the lowland plains around 75 meters to high-altitude wetlands reaching about 3,050 meters.

At first glance the Gadwall may appear rather plain compared to many other ducks, but closer observation reveals a subtle and elegant pattern. The male has finely mottled grey-brown plumage across the body, a darker brown head, and a distinctive black rear end. A white patch on the wing, visible in flight, contrasts with the otherwise muted coloration. The female resembles a female mallard but is slightly slimmer, with a warm brown body covered in delicate orange and dark markings. Both sexes have a relatively small bill, a rounded head, and a streamlined body adapted for dabbling at the water’s surface.

Gadwalls typically feed by tipping forward in shallow water to reach aquatic vegetation, seeds, and small invertebrates. They are often seen quietly foraging along the edges of lakes and marshes, sometimes in mixed flocks with other migratory waterfowl.

Although not as conspicuous as many brightly colored ducks, the Gadwall is an important seasonal visitor to Nepal’s wetlands, highlighting the ecological value of these habitats for migratory waterbirds.

Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.

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