male	male female European distribution male

Identification

The drake Wigeon is unmistakable with his rufous head and orange crown although from a distance it may be the white horizontal line on the body and the black and white rear end that you notice first. The female is relatively distinctive for a dabbling duck since she is darker, plainer and more rufous than other females with a characteristic head shape: steep at the front, rounded at the back and with a small grey bill. Wigeon often feed in short grass so that are often seen out of the water when, in all plumages, they show a neat rounded white belly patch. In flight, Wigeon are fast fliers with pointed tails and white bellies. The males have an unmissable white patch in the forewing but in females this is duller grey.

Habitat

Breeds on moorland near lochs, rivers and pools. Winters on estuaries, reservoirs, gravel pits and flooded fields.

Migration

Birds arrive on breeding grounds in April-May, and arrive on their wintering grounds during August-September.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Wigeon is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Loch Garten, Highland 31/07/2010	Leighton Moss, Lancs 18/07/2010	Leighton Moss, Lancs 18/07/2010	Washington WWT, Durham 13/06/2010	Kotlin Island, Leningrad Oblast, Russia (Europe) 24/04/2010
undisc. site, Northants 24/04/2010	Martin Mere, Lancs 23/03/2010	Cuckmere Haven, E Sussex 21/03/2010	Martin Mere, Lancs 19/03/2010	Staveley NR, N Yorks 19/03/2010

 View all pictures of Wigeon

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob1790.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Wigeon	Edit this link
	Broken link
Recommend a new link

BirdGuides Ltd are not responsible for the content of external sites. If you find a broken link, please click the appropriate "Broken link" link above`.