Mareca penelope
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Mass
~770 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Omnivore
How to recognize it
The Eurasian Wigeon has a compact look, with a short neck and a neat, rounded head. The drake is especially easy to remember for the pale stripe on the forehead and the broad white wing panels, which show well both on the water and in flight.
It is a fairly talkative duck. In spring the male gives a soft two-part whistle, while the female answers with a low, rough call. During courtship the males circle their mates instead of chasing others, and they often tip the bill upward as they whistle.
It favours shallow wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, and sheltered edges where water meets vegetation. It feeds mostly on green plant parts and rhizomes, and in winter also takes seeds, grain, and algae; most move south for the cold season.
Quick Facts
The Eurasian Wigeon has a compact look, with a short neck and a neat, rounded head. The drake is especially easy to remember for the pale stripe on the forehead and the broad white wing panels, which show well both on the water and in flight.
It is a fairly talkative duck. In spring the male gives a soft two-part whistle, while the female answers with a low, rough call. During courtship the males circle their mates instead of chasing others, and they often tip the bill upward as they whistle.
It favours shallow wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, and sheltered edges where water meets vegetation. It feeds mostly on green plant parts and rhizomes, and in winter also takes seeds, grain, and algae; most move south for the cold season.
