From Opus

Photo by Leslie

Anas americana

[edit] Identification

45-56cm
Male: pinkish-brown flanks and breast, black undertail coverts, white speculum, greyish head, green eye patch and a whitish crown stripe.
Female - light brown. White axillaries

• White fore-wing shows in flight.

[edit] Similar Species

Eurasian Wigeon, Chiloe Wigeon

Female in the lead, rest are males
Photo by tehag
San Diego, California USA, October 2008

[edit] Distribution

Alaska south throughout most of Canada and western United States.
Winters to north-west South America

[edit] Taxonomy

Sometimes placed in the genus Mareca.(Reference needed)

This is a monotypic species.^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Forages in marshes, fields, and shallow waters.

[edit] Behaviour

A dabbling duck.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes vegetable matter.

[edit] Breeding

Six to twelve creamy-white eggs are laid on the ground near water

[edit] Vocalisation

The male has a weak clear whistle in three syllables: wee-whee-whoe, whereas the female has a low growl qua-ack.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Surfbirds
3. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links