General

Eurasian Wigeon: Large dabbling duck with gray back and finely speckled gray flanks. Head is dark rufous-brown with buff crown and forehead; breast, neck and upper back are pale rufous brown and belly is white. Bill is blue-gray with black tip. Wings have white shoulder patches and green specula visible in flight. Female is orange washed gray-brown overall with heavy mottling and speckling; belly is white. Juvenile resembles female but is browner. Eclipse male resembles female but is much brighter rufous-brown and retains white shoulder patches.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Wigeon: Breeds from Iceland, the British Isles, and Scandinavia east to eastern Siberia and Kamchatka, and south to northern Europe, central Russia, and northern China. Occasional winter visitor to the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to northern Baja California and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Labrador and Newfoundland south to Florida and west to southern Texas. Preferred habitats include marshes, ponds, lakes, and tidal flats.

Breeding and Nesting

Eurasian Wigeon: Seven to nine creamy white to pale buff eggs are laid in a ground depression lined with grass and down, usually built near water, and hidden in tall grass. Female incubates eggs for 24 to 25 days; young fly at 60 to 70 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Eurasian Wigeon: Feeds primarily on pondweeds, eelgrass, other aquatic plants, and grass; forages in shallow water, fields, and meadows.

Vocalization

Eurasian Wigeon: Call is a wild, musical whistle, "whee-oo", and a short "chreep" note.

Similar Species

Eurasian Wigeon: American Wigeon has gray head with thick green eye mask extending down neck.