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Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > American Wigeon

American Wigeon

American wigeons are dabbling ducks found in the Americas. They belong to the same family as the gadwall, falcated teal, Chiloe wigeon, and Eurasian wigeon.

American Wigeon

Scientific Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
GenusMareca
Scientific NameMareca Americana

Quick Information

Also known asBaldpate
DescriptionSize: These ducks are 17-23 in (42-59 cm) long

Wingspan: Their unfurled wings measure at around 30-36 in (76-91 cm) from tip to tip

Weight: They weigh 1.1-3 lb (0.5-1.33 kg)

Color: Breeding males have a white cap, a grayish brown head, and a wide green patch behind the eyes, their bellies are white, females have brown and grey plumage; non-breeding males look like the females; the bills of both genders are pale blue; there is a grey-colored wing patch behind the speculum

DistributionNorthwestern to central North America as far south as northeastern California and northern Colorado; migrates to northern South America, Hawaii, and the West Indies; vagrant populations have been seen in western Europe
HabitatThey inhabit freshwater lakes, wetlands, estuaries, marshes, slow-moving rivers, flooded fields, and reservoirs
Sounds & CommunicationMales (drakes) have a high-pitched, squeaky toy-like three-note call (whoee-whoe-whoe), while hens produce rough quacks and grunts (qua-ack)
LifespanThey live for around 2 years in the wild
DietThe main diet for these birds is plant material, both terrestrial and aquatic; may also feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and insects
AdaptationsThe short, stout bill helps it to pull off leaves and stems from plants more easily
PredatorsThey may be preyed on by American crows, northern harriers, California gulls, red foxes, striped skunks, Franklin’s ground squirrels, short-tailed weasels, and American badgers
IUCN Conservation StatusLeast Concern

American Wigeon Drake

American Wigeon Flying

Behavior

  • These birds are sometimes called robber or poacher ducks as they snatch food from diving birds like coots, canvasbacks, and redheads, as they bring plant material up to the surface of the water.
  • They are highly social and stay in large flocks at all times except the breeding season, during which they tend to become territorial.
  • American wigeons are as comfortable on land as they are on the water.
  • They are a cautious bird, known to take to the skies in an erratic flight at the slightest hint of trouble.

American Wigeon Wing

American Wigeon Images

Mating & Reproduction

The breeding season for these ducks is in spring. Males compete for females by putting on displays and posturing threateningly to rivals. Pairs form in the wintering grounds. The female makes a nest on the ground in the vicinity of water bodies. A clutch of 3-13 eggs is laid and incubated only by the female for around 23-25 days.

Life-cycle

The young are relatively mature at hatching, being able to leave the nest and feed themselves in a short amount of time. They become capable of flying after around 45-63 days. Both males and females become sexually mature at approximately 1 year of age.

American Wigeon Male and Female

American Wigeon Female

Interesting Facts

  • The oldest recorded American wigeon lived for 21 years and 4 months.
  • Their alternative name, ‘baldpate,’ comes from the white patch of skin that the male has during the breeding season.

American Wigeon Duck

American Wigeons

References:

  1. https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/american-wigeon
  2. http://www.nhptv.org/wild/americanwigeon.asp
  3. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680163/137010293
  4. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/amewig/cur/introduction
  5. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Wigeon/overview
  6. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-wigeon
  7. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Anas_americana/

Published on May 18th 2018 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 17th July 2023.

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