Wigeon

Wigeons
Male (rear) and female (front) Eurasian wigeons. Recorded Dorset, England
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Anas
Subgenus:	Mareca
Species
Anas americana Anas sibilatrix Anas penelope †Anas marecula (extinct, c.1800)

The wigeons or widgeons are dabbling ducks in the genus Anas.

Biology

Male (front) and female (rear) American wigeons.

Male (rear) and female (front) Chiloé wigeons.

There are three extant species: the Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), the American wigeon (A. americana) and the Chiloé wigeon (A. sibilatrix). A fourth species, the Amsterdam wigeon (Anas marecula), became extinct in the 19th century. The wigeons are closely related to the gadwall and the falcated duck.^[1][2]

All three wigeons are similarly shaped, with a steep forehead and bulbous rear to the head. Males have a distinctive breeding plumage, in their eclipse plumage they resemble females, which are similar in appearance year-round. The three species' closest relatives within the genus Anas are the gadwall and the falcated duck.^[1] All three wigeon species hybridise in captivity^[3] while American and Eurasian wigeons hybridise in the wild.^[4] An American wigeon × mallard hybrid has also been recorded.^[5]

The American wigeon was formerly called the baldpate by ornithologists, and some people still use that name, especially hunters.

References

1. Johnson, KP; Sorenson, MD (1999). "Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus: Anas): A comparison of molecular and morphological evidence" (PDF). The Auk 116 (3): 792–805. doi:10.2307/4089339.
2. Gonzalez, J.; Düttmann, H.; Wink, M. (2009). "Phylogenetic relationships based on two mitochondrial genes and hybridization patterns in Anatidae". Journal of Zoology 279: 310-318. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00622.x.
3. Jiguet, Frédéric (1999). "Photo-forum: hybrid American Wigeons". Birding World 12 (6): 247–52.
4. Carey, Geoff J. (1993). Hybrid male wigeon in East Asia Hong Kong Bird Report 1992 160-6
5. Fedynich, Alan M. and Rhodes, Olin E., Jr. (1993). "Mallard × American Wigeon Hybrid on the Southern High Plains of Texas". The Southwestern Naturalist 38: 179. doi:10.2307/3672079.

Further reading

• Bailey HH (1919). "An interesting hybrid of Mareca penelope (Widgon) and Mareca americana (Baldpate)". Wilson Bulletin 31: 25.
• Cox C, Jessie B. "Aging of American and Eurasian Wigeons in female-type plumages" (PDF). Birding 37 (2): 156–164.
• Harrison JM, Harrison JG (1968). "Wigeon × Chiloé Wigeon hybrid resembling American Wigeon". British Birds 61: 169–171.
• Harrop A (1994). "Photo-forum: a presumed hybrid American Wigeon in Grampian". Birding World 7: 116–7.
• Harrop A (1994). "Field identification of American Wigeon". Birding World 7: 50–56.
• Jiquet F (1999). "Photo forum: Hybrid American Wigeons". Birding World 12: 247–252.
• Larkin P (2000). "Eyelid colour of American Wigeon". British Birds 93: 39–40.
• MacKay A (1996). "Hybrid wigeon resembling American Wigeon in Leicestershire". Birding World 9: 146–7.
• Shiota T (1987). "A challenge in the identification of hybrid American and Eurasian Wigeon". Yacho 496: 6, 18–19.
• Votier SC, Harrop AHJ, Denny M (2003). "A review of status and identification of American Wigeon in Britain and Ireland". British Birds 96: 2–22.
• Watson GE (1970). "A presumed wild hybrid Baldpate × Eurasian Wigeon". The Auk 87 (2): 353–7. doi:10.2307/4083926.

External links

Photographs of hybrid wigeons can be seen here and here.