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Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
Eurasian Wigeon, photographed by MabelAmber

Photo: MabelAmber · Pixabay · Pixabay Content License (licence)

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Call and song

About the Eurasian Wigeon

Breeding males are beautiful and distinctive with rich reddish-brown head, buffy forehead, pearly gray body, and pinkish breast. Look for large white wing patches in flight. Females are plainer warm brown overall, with a small pale bill. Very difficult to distinguish from female American Wigeon; note warmer brown head on Eurasian with little contrast between head, breast, and sides. Also look for dirty grayish, not bright white, underwings in flight, but this can be difficult to judge, especially at a distance. Widespread and common in Eurasia, breeding at northern latitudes and wintering south to central Africa and Southeast Asia. Typically in flocks on lakes and wetlands, often grazing in nearby fields. Regular winter visitor to North America, especially on the west coast, usually in very small numbers among flocks of American Wigeon.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 135 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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