North American field guide
Eurasian Wigeon
Anas penelope
Identification
Field notes
46-51 cm (18-20") Rare but regular winter visitor from Europe, seen along both coasts, casual inland. Lakes, bays, marshes. Surface feeding duck usually seen with similar American Wigeons.
Male: reddish-brown head with pale buff stripe on forehead and crown; gray back and sides; blue bill with black tip.
Female: small rounded uniformly brown head; brownish back and sides; light gray or bluish bill with black tip.
In flight, white patch on forewing; grayish "wingpits" or axillaries - not white as American Wigeon's.
Song: two-note whistle, soft quacks.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
ヒドリガモ（Anas penelope＝Wigeon）GH２＋Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100 300mm 3
Credit: Mori NatsuSummer (MoriNatsuSummer)Eurasian Wigeon
Credit: YnterstellaBird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Eurasian Wigeon (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
Eurasian Wigeon (Male)
1 ruleRule 1 13 criteria · confidence 1
- What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?
- Black, dark gray or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like