Waterfowl

Eurasian Wigeon

The Eurasian Wigeon or European Wigeon (Anas penelope) is a common and widespread duck.

Description

This dabbling duck is 42-50 cm long with a 71-80 cm wingspan.

The breeding male has grey flanks and back, with a black rear end and a brilliant white speculum (= distinctive wing patch) , obvious in flight or at rest. It has a pink breast, white belly, and a chestnut head with a yellowish crown stripe. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.

The female is light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard.

It can be distinguished from most other ducks, apart from American Wigeon, on shape. However, that species has a paler head and white axillaries (feathers under the wing – the “armpit” or “wingpit” of a bird) on its underwing.

Eurasian Wigeon
Female

Distribution

It breeds in the northernmost areas of Europe and Asia. It is the Old World counterpart of the North American American Wigeon. It is strongly migratory and winters further south than its breeding range. In Great Britain the Wigeon is common as a winter visitor, but scarce as a breeding bird in Scotland, the Lake District, the Pennines and occasionally further south. It can be found as an uncommon winter visitor in the United States, particularly on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The Wigeon is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Pair

Behavior and Habitat

The Wigeon is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or marshes with some taller vegetation, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing, which it does very readily.

It nests on the ground, near water and under cover. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks.

Eurasian Wigeon Female with chicks

Call / Vocalization:

This is a noisy species. The male has a clear whistle, whereas the female has a low growl.

References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Anas penelope. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

More Duck Resources

Eurasian Wigeon
Female Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon Pair

Diet / Feeding

Ducks generally feed on larvae and pupae often found under rocks, as well as aquatic animals, plant material, seeds, small fish, snails and crabs.

Eurasian Wigeons
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also
Close
Back to top button