American Wigeon (Anas americana)

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American Wigeon (Anas americana)

Photo credit: John J. Mosesso

Length: 17-23 in. Wingsapn: 33 in.
Habitat: Marshes, lakes, bays, fields. In summer maily on inland marshes, especially larger marshes, not often at small ponds. In migration and winter on coastal estuaries, fresh or salt marshes, inland lakes and ponds. May winter on large deep lakes.
Range: Abundant and widespread, particularly in the West. Farther north than all other dabbling ducks except the Northern Pintail. Nests on tundra pools, river deltas, borela lakes and prairie potholes.

While most dabbling ducks are denizens of the shallows, American Wigeon spend much of their time in flocks grazing on land. They also spend more time than other marsh ducks on deep water, where they get most of their food by stealing it from other birds such as coots or diving ducks.

Wigeons feed mostly on plant material. They eat aquatic plants such as pondweeds, sedges wild celery, eelgrass, algae. They also eat some insects and snails. On land grazes on young grass shoots and consumes seeds and waste grains. Very young ducklings eat many insects. They may feed by day or night.

They build their nests on dry land, sometimes on island, usually within 100 feet of water but sometimes up to 1/2 mile away. The nest (built by female) is a shallow depression filled with grasses and weeds, lined with down. Male usually departs before eggs hatch. Female remains with brood for much of their preflight stage.

Conservation Status The American Wigeon population seems stable.