American Wigeon

Anas americana

Order

ANSERIFORMES

Family

Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

Code 4

AMWI

Code 6

ANAAME

ITIS

Breeding Location:

Marshes, freshwater, Swamps

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester

Breeding Population:

Stable

Egg Color:

Creamy white

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Grasses and weeds lined with down.

Migration:

Migratory

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General

American Wigeon: Medium-sized dabbling duck with pale blue bill and white shoulder patches that are visible in flight. Male is brown with white crown, large green ear patch extending to back of head, buff washed breast and sides, and white belly. Female and juvenile are mottled brown with gray heads, brown breasts, and white bellies. Eclipse male resembles female but has small green ear patch.

Range and 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.

Breeding and 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.

Foraging and 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.

Vocalization

American Wigeon: Makes distinctive whistled call "whew-whee-whew"; also quacks.

Similar Species

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

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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 forbidden2.

Belly

The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.

Breast

The upper front part of a bird.

Crown

The crown is the top part of the birds head.

Ear patch

Consists of soft, loose-webbed feathers on the side of the bird's head below and behind the eyes.

Shoulder

The short feathers overlying the median secondary coverts on the top of the wing. They are located near the back and can be seen as the “first row” of feathers on the birds wing. They are also called marginal coverts and lesser secondary coverts.

Parts of a Standing bird

Head Feathers and Markings

Parts of a Flying bird

Field Guide to Birds of North America