People often call it “Baldpate” because of the bright white stripe running from its forehead to the top of its head. The male stands out with a shiny green patch around its eyes and a pinkish-brown body that looks like it caught the colors of a sunset. Unlike many ducks that hide in the reeds, the American wigeon is easy to spot, with its rounded forehead and small blue-gray bill tipped in black. This bill is its main tool, working like a pair of shears to neatly graze grasses and aquatic plants.
What really makes the American wigeon stand out in a busy marsh is its outgoing personality and unique voice. Instead of the deep quacks of a mallard, this duck uses high-pitched, three-note whistles that sound like a squeaky toy or a far-off referee’s whistle. These calls are almost always heard, especially when flocks are on the move, filling the wetlands with their music. Wigeons are also known as the “bandits” of the pond. Since they do not dive for food, they often wait near diving birds like redheads or American coots. When a diver comes up with tasty plants, the wigeon quickly grabs some for itself, using its speed and cleverness to get a meal without diving.
A special feature of the American wigeon appears when it flies: a bright white patch on its upper wings that acts as a clear signal. In the air, these ducks are fast and unpredictable, often flying in tight groups that make the white patches flash against the sky. This white marking helps the flock stay together during long migrations, which can take them from Alaska to Central America. Wigeons are also tough birds, often being the first to head north in spring and the last to leave in fall, as long as there is open water and enough plants to eat.
Distribution
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
British Virgin Is.
Canada
Cayman Islands
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curaçao
Czechia
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
French Guiana
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Iceland
Ireland
Jamaica
Japan
Korea
Lithuania
Martinique
Mexico
Montserrat
Morocco
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Russia
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Senegal
Sint Maarten
Spain
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sweden
Taiwan
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos
US Virgin Islands
United Kingdom
United States
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
