Gadwall
Mareca strepera
A subtly elegant duck, the Gadwall drake appears greyish with a neat black rear end, while the female looks mallard-like but with a white speculum (wing patch). Less common in coastal waters but they occasionally drop by Lihou.
- Habitat: Freshwater lakes, marshes, quiet coastal lagoons.
- When to See: Mostly in winter; small numbers may pass through during migration.
- Diet / Food: Herbivorous, grazing on aquatic vegetation, with occasional invertebrates.
- Length: 46–56 cm