description Amsterdam wigeon Overview
The Amsterdam wigeon was an extinct duck known from subfossil remains on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. It was a flightless or nearly flightless waterfowl and is generally treated as a member of the Anatidae, the family that includes ducks, geese, and swans. The bird illustrates the vulnerability of island species to environmental change and human activity, although the available evidence is limited because it is based mainly on skeletal material.
help Amsterdam wigeon FAQ
Could the Amsterdam wigeon actually fly?
Probably not, or only weakly. Studies of its subfossil bones indicate it was flightless or nearly flightless, a common fate for ducks evolving on remote predator-free islands like Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean.
Where did the Amsterdam wigeon live and why is it only known from bones?
It lived only on Amsterdam Island, a small volcanic island that is now part of the French Southern Territories in the southern Indian Ocean. No scientist ever saw one alive; the species is known entirely from subfossil bones collected on the island, and it was scientifically described in the 1990s.
When did the Amsterdam wigeon go extinct?
The exact date is unknown, but it most likely disappeared in the centuries after European ships, sealers, and whalers began frequentating the island, which introduced hunting pressure and rats. Since it was still present as subfossil (relatively recent) remains, it survived well past the island's first European sightings in the 1500s.
Is the Amsterdam wigeon related to the wigeon ducks I see today?
Yes, it belongs to Anatidae, the family that includes all ducks, geese, and swans, and it carried the scientific name Anas marecula. Its bones suggest it was a close island-relative of the wigeon lineage rather than a totally distinct type of waterfowl.
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