Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Eurasian Wigeon
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Mareca penelope
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How to recognize it
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Smaller than a mallard, stocky shape and short neck
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In spring and early summer, male with a chestnut head and pale crown stripe
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Male’s white wing patches visible at rest on water and in flight
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Male’s two-note whistle, "pjiew-pjiew"
About the species
In breeding plumage, the male has a chestnut head and pink breast against a gray back and flanks, with a creamy crown. Its belly is white, and a bright white patch on the upper wing shows even when it is resting on the water. Females are mottled light brown, while males in late summer become browner and resemble them, though they keep the white wing patch.
Away from the breeding season, they gather in dense flocks and often graze along wet banks and grassy fields. The male gives a clear, two-part whistle, "pjiew pjiew"; the female answers with a low, rough "rawr." Even in summer, they favor plant food, including green parts and roots of water plants.
They use shallow freshwater wetlands, marshes and wet grasslands, especially where water plants meet open water. They eat mainly green aquatic plants and their roots, with seeds making up more of the diet at some times. Most migrate south for winter, leaving northern breeding grounds for southern Europe, Asia and Africa.
Where to find
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In summer, at a shallow wooded lake or quiet river backwater, watch Eurasian Wigeons feed in the shallows on green parts of aquatic plants.
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On a wet meadow or gently sloping shore, look for flocks grazing on waterside vegetation.
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In winter, scan sheltered sea bays, estuaries, or marshy coastal lowlands for dense flocks gathered by the water.
