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Eurasian Wigeon
(Mareca [Anas] penelope)
: "Widgeon", "Eurasian Widgeon"
 German name(s): "Pfeifente"
Size: 42-50 cm; wing span 71-85 cm
Weight: 500-1070 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Eurasian Wigeons are medium-sized dabbling ducks.
Their plumage
is dimorphic,
i.e. males
and females
are different.
In addition, males
have different plumages
during the
breeding season and in
eclipse.
Breeding
male Eurasian Wigeons have a creamy forehead and an otherwise
brown head and neck, with the darkest shade of brown found on
the throat.
The chest is pinkish-brown, while the back and wings are very finely
barred light-grey, with part of a white wing patch visible. The
flanks and belly are white, while the undertail coverts and the rump
are black. The flight feathers are dark-grey with white edge lining.
In eclipse the head is dark-brown with fine dark-grey streaking,
and a dark-grey area from behind the eyes around the back of the
neck. The only parts of the body plumages that do not change colour
compared to the
breeding season are the flight feathers and the white wing
patch, which still remains partly visible when the wings are folded.
The chest and flanks are chestnut to rusty-brown, with dark-grey wing
coverts that have chestnut to rusty-brown edge lining. The undertail
coverts and rump are pale chestnut to creamy with grey barring.
Females
have cryptic
plumage, with
vermiculation all over. The head and neck are grey with brownish-grey,
while the back, in particular the wing coverts, are dark grey-brown
with light-grey edge lining. The chest and flanks are pale
pinkish grey-brown. Only the belly and vent are white like the males'.
Both sexes have dark-brown irises and a light bluish-grey bill
with a dark-grey tip. The legs and feet are grey.
Immature first-year males resemble adult males in eclipse, but
possibly with an indication of a creamy forehead.
Juveniles
resemble
females.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Eurasian
Wigeon at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Eurasian Wigeon is available
HERE
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Although, as the name suggests, primarily an Eurasian species,
Eurasian Wigeons are also commonly found on Iceland, Spitsbergen
and also in North America, where they often associate, and can
interbreed, with the American Wigeon (not presented on these pages).
Their breeding grounds are in Arctic tundra all across the northern
hemisphere, while they spend the northern winters in more temperate
climate zones, including parts of the tropics, such as e.g. parts
of the Indian subcontinent and also the eastern Atlantic island
groups off West Africa and parts of the Philippines in South-east
Asia.
During their migration they can basically be found anywhere between
breeding grounds and winter grounds.
In Europe, except for a few selected sites in Poland and in
the Baltic States, where they breed, Eurasian Wigeons are
found as breeding migrants in the northern parts, i.e.
Scotland, Scandinavia and in north-western Russia.
They are found as winter visitors from Denmark southwards,
along the North Sea and Atlantic coastline, around the
entire Mediterranean Sea, including the Mediterranean
islands and some parts of inland Iberia.
Anywhere else they are found only during their migration.
Eurasian Wigeons have a preference for open wetlands, often
around fresh water, with taller plants for cover, but they
are flexible in their choice of habitat, even during the
breeding season. During the winter they show a preference
for (near-)coastal habitats.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
J. Pires reports spotting Eurasian
Wigeons occasionally during the non-breeding season in Portugal,
e.g. in the Tejo estuary, Portugal, in March 2016 and in
Palhais, Barrero, Portugal, in January-March 2018.
D. Wilczynska reports spotting Eurasian Wigeons in wetlands
along the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in April 2017.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
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Lateral view of a male Eurasian Wigeon in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Lateral view of a dabbling male Eurasian Wigeon in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Wigeon in breeding
plumage,
right, with a female on the left
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Wigeon in breeding
plumage,
left, with two females on the right
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Small group of Eurasian Wigeons (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
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FEMALE |
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Lateral view of a female Eurasian Wigeon, centre, with two males
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Wigeon
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2016]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
