GADWALLS are clannish, seldom mingling with other ducks and usually gather in small flocks. The rufus coverts, white speculum and swift whistling flight makes their identification easy. They are extremely rare in the east where I have seen them only four times in half a century. Altho resting high and light on the surface they are expert divers.
Rounding the bend of a saltwater Carolina creek I almost ran over four of these birds. The sloop was logging about seven (?) knots before a strong north breeze. The Ducks dove instantly and did not reappear until we had traversed at least six hundred feet. They came to the surface just ahead and realizing that outswimming the sloop was impossible, reversed their course, headed back and broke water far astern.
North America from southern Canadian provinces south. Breeds in western part of its range.