Eurasian Wigeon

An adult male Eurasian wigeon in breeding plumage has a distinctive chestnut head with a pale cream or buff forehead. Its body is largely gray, and it features contrasting black and white wing patches visible in flight. This striking coloration makes it relatively easy to identify among other dabbling ducks.

The Eurasian wigeon is a migratory dabbling duck that breeds across northern Europe and Asia. During the winter, the populations migrate farther south to warmer regions in Europe, Africa, and southern Asia. They gather in large flocks on coastal estuaries and inland wetlands.

As a dabbling duck (Mareca penelope), the Eurasian wigeon typically feeds by tipping forward in shallow water to graze on aquatic plants. They are also known to graze on grasses in fields, sometimes associating with grazing livestock. They will often steal food from diving ducks like coots.

Yes, while their primary range is across Europe and Asia, Eurasian wigeons are regular vagrants to North America. Birdwatchers in the United States and Canada frequently spot them mixed in with flocks of American wigeons during the winter. They are considered a rare but highly sought-after sighting for birders.