The Gadwall: An underappreciated fowl

A drake Gadwall, Anas strepera, poses in a Cape May, New Jersey marsh earlier this month. This is an exquisite and highly detailed duck, and an underappreciated species. Note the intricate scaled pattern on the breast, which fades to ornate vermiculations along the side. A coal black rump sets off the posterior, and when open, the wings display cinnamon, black, and white wing patches. Even the male's "quack" is special: a low nasal croak that suggests a woodcock.

The fabled Federal Duck Stamp program, launched in 1934, features original artwork for each annual stamp. Winning the duck stamp competition is a highly coveted honor, and attracts the best wildlife artists in North American. Amazingly, the Gadwall has been selected only once: in 1951, when Maynard Reece's submission won. That adds evidence to my point: Gadwalls are underappreciated. However, from an artist's perspective, I wonder if they aren't hard to render accurately, with all that incredible plumage detail.

See below for a black and white image of Reece's 1951 stamp.