Eurasian Wigeon

About

A medium-sized compact duck. Males have a chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze, pink breast, grey body, and white wing patch. Highly migratory; one of Europe's most abundant wintering ducks. Grazes on short grass and aquatic vegetation.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	50.1 cm	19.7 in
Weight	783.75 g	27.65 oz

Identification

Plumage

Males have chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze; pink-buff breast; gray flanks; white belly. White forewing patch conspicuous in flight. Females rufous-brown. Compact with small bill. Dimorphic.

Habitat & Range

Breeds on boreal and subarctic lakes and bogs across Eurasia from Iceland east to Siberia. Winters in huge numbers on estuaries, lakes, and coastal grasslands in western Europe and South and Southeast Asia.

🏖️ Coastal 🌲 Forest 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Resident in New Zealand's main islands and some offshore islands. Non-migratory; inhabits rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates in shallow ponds; broadly omnivorous and seasonally variable.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 24-25 days. Fledging: 40-45 days.

Clutch Size

6-12

Sound

Song

Male produces a clear, ringing whee-oo whistle; female gives a low, guttural purr. The male's bright, piping call is the classic sound of European winter estuaries and flocks.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Mareca
Species	Mareca penelope

Distribution

Eurasian Wigeon has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇺🇸 United States

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Eurasian Wigeon eat?

Feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates in shallow ponds; broadly omnivorous and seasonally variable.

Where does the Eurasian Wigeon live?

Breeds on boreal and subarctic lakes and bogs across Eurasia from Iceland east to Siberia. Winters in huge numbers on estuaries, lakes, and coastal grasslands in western Europe and South and Southeast Asia.

Is the Eurasian Wigeon endangered?

The Eurasian Wigeon has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Eurasian Wigeon nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 24-25 days. Fledging: 40-45 days.

What does the Eurasian Wigeon sound like?

Male produces a clear, ringing whee-oo whistle; female gives a low, guttural purr. The male's bright, piping call is the classic sound of European winter estuaries and flocks.

How big is the Eurasian Wigeon?

The Eurasian Wigeon has a wingspan of 50.1 cm, weight of 783.75 g.

What order and family does the Eurasian Wigeon belong to?

The Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.