Eurasian Widgeon
European Widgeon
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Description
Eurasian Wigeons can often be found in the company of
American Wigeons. The male's bright russet-red head,
topped with a crème stripe, and it's gray back and
sides distinguish it from its American cousin. Females
of the two species are so similar that separation in
the field is unreliable. However, Adult female
Eurasian Wigeons have two color phases: gray and red.
Females in reddish plumage have russet-brown heads,
necks, chests, backs, sides, and flanks, with a much
redder tinge than in female American Wigeons. Eurasian
Wigeon males have a black speckled russet-red neck and
head topped with a crème stripe. The breast is
grayish-pink and the lower breast, belly, and sides of
the rear body behind the flanks are white. The flanks
are finely vermiculated and appear gray. In flight, a
white shoulder patch and green speculum are displayed.
The bill is blue-gray with a black tip and the legs
and feet are blue-gray. Eurasian Wigeon females have
gray-brown to russet-brown heads, necks, chests,
backs, sides and flanks. The bill is blue-gray with a
black tip and the legs and feet are blue-gray.
Average length: M 19.3", F 17.9
Average weight: M 1.6 lbs., F 1.4 lbs.
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Breeding
European Wigeon nest farther north than any other
dabbling duck with the exception of the northern
pintail. They breed throughout northern Saskatchewan,
Alberta, Manitoba, Alaska, and the Northwest
Territories. European Wigeons prefer shallow lakes and
marshy sloughs that are surrounded by dry sedge-lined
meadows and contain submerged vegetation. Female
European Wigeons lay an average of 9 eggs.
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General Comments
Eurasian Wigeons are aquatic grazers and feed
primarily on pondweeds, eelgrass, other aquatic
plants, and grass found in shallow water and in fields
and meadows.
The majority of Eurasian Wigeons winter from Iceland,
the British Isles, northern Europe, southern Russia,
and Japan south to the eastern Atlantic islands,
Africa, Arabia, India, the Malay Peninsula, southern
China, Formosa, and the Philippines. In North America,
the Eurasian Wigeon is an occasional visitor to the
Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to northern
Baja California and the Atlantic-Gulf coast from
Labrador and Newfoundland south to Florida and west to
southern Texas.
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Place Mouse over Pictures to Enlarge
European Drake
European Hen
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