The American Wigeon, a dabbling duck with style, makes quiet lakes and marshes come alive with its breezy whistle. Breeding males are known as "baldpates" because of their distinctive white crown and green eye patch. Warm browns are used to brush the females, who have gray-brown heads and smudges around their eyes. During the fall and winter, noisy groups cluster, nibbling plants off the water's surface or plucking plants with their small, goose-like bills from marshes and fields. Despite being widespread, their numbers are decreasing.
American Wigeon Specification
American Wigeon ID
August through April are the best months to watch American Wigeons in the Lower 48. Check surrounding marshes, ponds, and agricultural areas during these months, and listen for their distinctive nasal whistle, which is frequently the first indication that they are there. The male's brilliant white forehead and sides of his rump will catch your eye from a distance. To obtain the greatest views, observe American Wigeons from a distance, as they are quickly startled if disturbed. They become considerably more cautious during the hunting season and may start eating in fields at night and in bigger, safer lakes and ponds with vegetation cover during the day.
