Saturday, January 29, 2011 - Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park, San Antonio NM

A common and increasingly abundant duck, the American Wigeon breeds in northwestern North America and is found throughout the rest of the continent in migration and in winter. Its small bill and the male's white forehead, as well as certain aspects of nesting and feeding behavior, distinguish this species from other dabbling ducks.

Cool Facts

• The American Wigeon was formerly known as "Baldpate" because the white stripe resembled a bald man's head.
• The American Wigeon is a rare, but regular straggler to Europe where it turns up in flocks of Eurasian Wigeon.
• The American Wigeon's short bill enables it to exert more force at the bill tip than other dabbling ducks, thus permitting efficient dislodging and plucking of vegetation.
• The America Wigeon is the dabbling duck most likely to leave water and graze on vegetation in fields. However, feeding in fields on grain, such as corn, is rather rare.
• The American Wigeon's diet has a higher proportion of plant matter than the diet of any other dabbling duck.

Source: American Wigeon, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology