American Wigeon

Anas americanaOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

American Wigeon - The male American Wigeon has a white forehead and crown, wide green ear patch and a white head with heavy black streaking and a pale blue bill with a black tip.

American Wigeon Female - The female American Wigeon is mottled brown with a gray head that has heavy fine black streaking and a brown breast.

American Wigeon Eclipse Male - The male eclipse American Wigeon has more black streaking on the head and neck and lacks the green ear patch and white on the head, the upperparts are brown and the breast and flanks are chestnut.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

American Wigeon

American Wigeon: Medium dabbling duck, brown body with white crown, large green ear patch extending to back of head, buff washed breast and sides, and white belly. White shoulder patches visible in flight. Black-tipped pale blue bill. Swift direct flight, strong wing beats. Flies in tight flocks.

● Song: "whew, whew, whew"

● Foraging & Feeding: American Wigeon: Opportunistic and aggressive feeder, often foraging in open water by stealing materials brought to the surface by diving ducks and coots. Feeds primarily on leafy aquatic plants, grass, and agricultural crops; also takes insects and other aquatic invertebrates.

● Breeding & nesting: American Wigeon: Six to twelve creamy white eggs are laid in a down-lined nest made of grass, often several hundred yards from water. Incubation ranges from 22 to 25 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: American Wigeon: Eurasian Wigeon has rufous head, buff forehead and crown, and grayer sides and back.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with strong wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: American Wigeon: Breeds from Alaska, northern Manitoba and southern Quebec south to Nevada, the Dakotas, and the Great Lakes region, rarely farther east. Spends winters mainly along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts. Marshes, ponds, and shallow lakes are preferred habitats.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationStable

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight27.2 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

Flight Pattern