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American Wigeon

Anas americana ORDER: ANSERIFORMES FAMILY: ANATIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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American Wigeon Photo

© Marie Read

A common and increasingly abundant duck, the American Wigeon breeds in northwestern North America and is found throughout the rest of the continent in migration and in winter. Its small bill and the male's white forehead, as well as certain aspects of nesting and feeding behavior, distinguish this species from other dabbling ducks.

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Appearance

Ducks
Ducks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized duck.
  • Male with white crown.
  • Green face patch.
  • Large white patch in wings.
  • Black rear end bordered by white.

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: White or cream-colored forehead and forecrown and broad dark-green patch extending from behind eye to nape. Bill is bluish-gray with black tip. Cheeks and chin grayish. Breast, sides, and back are pinkish-brown. Rear flanks show a white patch; undertail coverts are black.
Eclipse (Basic) Plumage: Variable amounts of white and green on head. Undertail coverts are variably black, with some white. In all plumages, male shows white patch on upper wing, and dark-green speculum.

Female Description

Head appears grayish overall, with finely-blended white and dusky streaks. Breast and flanks are pale reddish-brown; mantle is grayish-brown with some buff barring. Bill is small and grayish, with a black tip.

Immature Description

Similar to adult female.

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American Wigeon Range Map
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Similar Species

  • Eurasian Wigeon is closely related and very similar. Breeding male Eurasian Wigeon has dark rufous head and buffy forehead, with no green stripe, and grayish flanks and back. Female, eclipse male, and immature very difficult to distinguish; the best mark is the color of the axillaries ("armpits"), which are gray on Eurasian Wigeon and white on American Wigeon.