Monday 24 October 2011

American Wigeon (Anas americana)

OTHER NAMES: American Widgeon, Baldpate
Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") americana ("American")

Adult male American Wigeon (Anas Americanaat Rutland Water, Rutland - October 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 500-1300g  /  Length: 42-59cm  /  Wingspan: 76-91cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The American Wigeon is as the name suggests, the North American equivelant of the Eurasian Wigeon. The male is a fairly attractive bird with a yellow head with a striking green mask which covers each eye and runs down the back of the neck. I did in fact get some nice views of this through the telescopes of some generous people in the same hide, but unfortunately, something startled all the birds into flying off and I only managed to take this single photo of it as it flew off, which I had to get expert help to pick out which bird it was. Apparently, the diagnostic features which allowed it to be picked out are "large amount of white on the upper wing" and "extensive pinkish/purplish colour on the rear flank". Massive thanks to the people on Birdforum who helped me find the bird in the photo, and the people in the hide at Rutland who showed me it through their scopes!

Related Species:
Order:
Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A rare vagrant from North America.
 - A single bird seen at Rutland Water in October 2011 associating with a number of Eurasian Wigeon

Further Notes: BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPBWikipedia, Xeno-canto

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