American Wigeon
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 WigeonAdditional Information
American WigeonHabitat, 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
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(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