PRAIRIE FIELD NOTES / MONTANA

Gadwall at Medicine Lake, Montana

Gadwall appear on the official species list for Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, alongside other ducks, geese and swans.

1 min readBirdwatching notebook1 viewsGadwall at Medicine Lake, Montana
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Contents
  1. Are gadwall found at Medicine Lake, Montana?
  2. Other waterfowl on the same refuge list
  3. What the available evidence does not cover

Are gadwall found at Medicine Lake, Montana?

Yes. The gadwall is on the species list that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes for Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Montana. The list records it as a locally observed species, so birders visiting the refuge have documented reason to expect it among the waterfowl.

Being on the list confirms only that gadwall have been recorded at the refuge. It does not say how common they are, which months they occur, or where on the refuge they are most likely to be seen.

Other waterfowl on the same refuge list

The refuge species list also includes these ducks, geese and swans. They help put a gadwall sighting in context, because several may share the same water:

  • Mallard
  • Northern pintail
  • Northern shoveler
  • Blue-winged teal
  • Lesser scaup
  • Canada goose
  • Snow goose
  • Tundra swan

What the available evidence does not cover

The source behind this guide is the refuge's species list. It does not provide seasonal timing, abundance, nesting status, best viewing areas, or identification details for gadwall or the other species listed here. This guide leaves those points out instead of guessing at them. Before a trip, check the refuge's current species information and visitor rules, and keep a respectful distance from waterfowl so you do not flush resting or feeding birds.

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