When present, the central light brown does not extend to the tip. Gadwall down feathers are dark with moderately white frosting on the tips. Wigeon down feathers are very dark, often nearly black, with conspicuously frosted tips. The relatively large eggs of gadwalls and wigeons are creamy white to pale olive buff. The coloration and pattern of breast feathers vary.
Some feathers have brown centers extending toward the base and contrasting light tan tips and edges.
Other variations include feathers that tend to be light tan with several brown spots. Eggs are a creamy tan with very little variation among nests. The down and breast feathers are very small. Breast feathers tend to have brown centers with light tan edges but are more rectangular than those of blue-winged teal. Nest bowls are smaller than those of the other species described.