Hear a story about the American wigeon.
Hear an American wigeon.

adapted from The Birds of Texas
by John L. Tveten

The American wigeon is a member of the Anatidae family that includes approximately 145 species of ducks, geese and swans. Unlike many of the ducks that range around the Northern Hemisphere, the American wigeon is largely limited to North America, as its scientific name would indicate. Its counterpart is the Eurasian wigeon, distinguished by a rich red-brown head and buffy cap. The later occurs only as a very rare straggler to the Texas coast.

The American wigeon is approximately 14 inches long with a wingspan of around 34 inches. It is often called "baldpate," for the male's gleaming white forehead and crown that make him instantly recognizable in a mixed flock of ducks. He has green patches on the sides of his gray head as well, and his breast and sides are a rich pinkish brown. In flight, he flashes large white patches on the upper wings. The female is mottled brown, but her contrasting gray head and neck usually serve to distinguish her from female gadwalls and pintails. Her wing-patches are more dingy gray but still recognizable. Both have a blue bill with black on the tip.

Wigeons eat aquatic plants, seeds and insects, and feed on the surface of the water with their heads down and tails in the air. Called "dabbling" or "puddle ducks," they have small webbed feet and can walk better on land than diving ducks. Diving ducks feed on the bottoms of ponds and marshes, have larger feet and waddle when they walk. Their wings are small, forcing them to run across the water when they take off. Dabblers have large wings, compared to their body size, and fly with more control. This enables them to quickly take flight when startled.

The American wigeon species breeds in Alaska, Canada and the northwestern states. It seems to be expanding its range toward the East coast and migrates as far as northern South America. It spends the winter throughout Texas and is common on most marshes, ponds and shallow bays. In addition to feeding on the surface of the water, it grazes in grasslands and cutover grainfields.

More Facts... Wigeons often dart about on the water and steal food from the diving ducks, thus earning them the nickname "poacher." During the winter months, male wigeons are drab colored like the females. The male's call is a series of musical, whistled notes - whee-whee-whee. The female is the noisier of the sexes, uttering a loud qua-ack when alarmed.

Other Links USGS website with photos and scientific data on the American wigeon. More on the American wigeon from the eNature website. Drawings to help you identify the American wigeon. New! Learn how your school, nature center or nonprofit organization can add audio clips to its website.