American Wigeon




American Wigeon


American Wigeon
(Mareca americana)

Order:  Anseriformes
Family:  Anatidae




American Wigeon - Breeding Male
Photo © Don DesJardin

American Wigeon Information

Length:  18 - 23"

Habitat:
Breeding habitat: Freshwater marshes, lakes, slow-moving streams, marshy sloughs, ponds.

Winter habitat: Coastal marshes, sheltered bays, and estuaries; shallow inland ponds and lakes; wet meadows.

Diet:  Leaves, stems, and buds of aquatic vegetation such as pondweeds, sedges, wigeon grass, and wild celery; grass shoots, waste grains, insects, snails.

  Calls of the American Wigeon


  Identification tips for the American Wigeon

Additional Information

American Wigeon
Habitat, diet, feeding behavior, nesting, migration, and conservation status of this bird. Includes range map, photos, and songs and calls. (From Audubon Field Guide)


Female American Wigeon

Female American Wigeon

© Don DesJardin


Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015


American Wigeon Breeding Map

(Image credit: USGS)


Range in New England


The American Wigeon is occasionally found breeding in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. There have been reports of very rare and local breeding on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain in Vermont.

This duck is seen during migration throughout the region. In New England, it winters in the coastal areas of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Year-round Sightings from eBird

Sightings of the American Wigeon throughout the year over past 10 years (2009-2019)


Christmas Bird Count Map
Historical CBC Map from USGS