American wigeon (Anas americana)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 34 inches

• Large dabbling duck

• Blue bill with black nail

• White secondary coverts (grayer in females) and green speculum

• White axillars

• White belly

• Juvenile similar to adult female

Adult male alternate:

• Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer

• White crown

• Green post-ocular stripe

• Streaked gray lower face and neck

• Rusty breast and flanks

• Dark brown back

• White patch at rear portion of flanks

• Black undertail coverts

Adult male basic:

• Similar to adult female but usually retains rusty flanks and white fore-       wing

Adult female:

• Blue bill with black tip

• Mottled dark brown body plumage with rustier flanks contrasting with       paler head and neck

• Dusky eye patch

Similar species:

Adult in alternate plumage is unmistakable. All plumages distinguished
from all other dabbling ducks (except Eurasian wigeon) by pale gray or
white secondary coverts in flight. At rest wigeon have a distinctive steep
forehead and gently sloped rear part of the head, as well as pale blue bills.
The rare Eurasian wigeon is very similar in female, immature and eclipse
male plumages and is safely distinguished only in flight by its gray, not
white, axillars, and sometimes by the lack of contrast between head and
back plumage.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:Wetland-open water
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:6-12
Length of Incubation: 23-25 days
Days to Fledge:37-48
Number of Broods:1
Diet: Primarily green plant matter and seeds; lesser quantities of aquatic   

   invertebrates

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May Acc
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February Acc

 

 

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