Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Genus · Wigeons and Allies Family · Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Coastal meadowsCoastal shallowsMarine

Listen for the whistling call. In flight, look for the large white patches on the upper wings of the males.

Eurasian Wigeon

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan75–86 cm
Weight500–1050 g
Length42–50 cm
Lifespan wild5–15 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeScrape
Clutch size7–10 eggs
Incubation22–25 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationMigratory
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Herbivore

🌾Grain
🌱Grass
🍃Plants

Habitat

🛶 Lake wetlands🌾 Marsh🏞️ River
✦ Fun Fact

Wigeons are surprisingly crafty feeders. They often wait for Coots or Mute Swans to bring up aquatic plants from depths beyond their reach, then quickly steal the food for themselves.

About

A medium-sized dabbling duck of coastal marshes and wet grasslands. It breeds in the high Arctic and winters in enormous numbers in Europe. It has a small blue-grey bill with a black tip and a high forehead. They are highly social and gather in tight-knit flocks on coastal wetlands.

Behaviour

Wigeons are primarily grazers. They often leave the water to feed on grass, just like geese. In winter, the male produces a loud, musical whistle 'whee-oo'. They are fast fliers and show a large white patch on the wing in flight.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Has a distinctive chestnut-red head with a creamy-yellow forehead and crown. The body is grey with a pinkish breast.

♀ Female

A mottled brown duck with a reddish-brown wash on her flanks. Her head is more rounded than a Mallard's.

Similar species

Gadwall
🐦
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Mallard
🐦
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
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