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[[Image:Wig1a.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|cheersm8|cheersm8}}<br />[[Cambridgeshire]], [[UK]], October 2009]]
*Blue bill with black tip
*Blue bill with black tip
*Mottled dark brown body plumage with
*Mottled dark brown body plumage with
Line 20:
Line 21:
Similar to adult female.
Similar to adult female.
==Distribution==
==Distribution==
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A common summer visitor to the north of the Palearctic region breeding in [[Iceland]] and northern Britain, throughout most of [[Scandinavia]] except southern [[Sweden]] and across northern [[Russia]] to the Pacific. More scattered populations breed in [[Poland]] and the Baltic states and occasionally small numbers breed south of main range in southern Britain and eastern Europe.
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A common summer visitor to the north of the Palearctic region breeding in [[Iceland]] and northern Britain, throughout most of [[Scandinavia]] except southern [[Sweden]] and across northern [[Russia]] to the Pacific. More scattered populations breed in [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]] and occasionally small numbers breed south of main range in southern Britain and eastern Europe.
Present in breeding range April-September, widespread in winter and found along many coastlines from Iceland, the British Isles and [[Denmark]] south to the North African coast. Also around the Black and Caspian Seas and in southern [[Iraq]] and eastwards across temperate Asia. Small numbers occur in sub-Saharan [[Africa]] and [[Arabia]].
Present in breeding range April-September, widespread in winter and found along many coastlines from Iceland, the British Isles and [[Denmark]] south to the North African coast. Also around the Black and Caspian Seas and in southern [[Iraq]] and eastwards across temperate Asia. Small numbers occur in sub-Saharan [[Africa]] and [[Arabia]].
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[[Image:177K9768.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|targetman|targetman}}<br />[[Lincolnshire]], October 2009]]
====Vagrancy====
====Vagrancy====
Vagrants have been recorded on the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]], Borneo, Sulawesi and [[Hawaii]]. Regular in small numbers on both coasts of [[North America]] and a common migrant through the Aleutians.
Vagrants have been recorded on the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]], Borneo, Sulawesi and [[Hawaii]]. Regular in small numbers on both coasts of [[North America]] and a common migrant through the Aleutians.
==Taxonomy==
==Taxonomy==
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Sometimes placed in the genus ''Mareca''.
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, which is sometimes placed in the genus ''Mareca''.
==Habitat==
==Habitat==
Breeds in dense cover close to freshwater lakes and marshes in open and sometimes wooded areas. Highly gregarious in winter around estuaries and on coastal grassland. Grazes on pastures as well as feeding in shallow water and often associates with Brent Geese in estuaries and on coastal farmland.
Breeds in dense cover close to freshwater lakes and marshes in open and sometimes wooded areas. Highly gregarious in winter around estuaries and on coastal grassland. Grazes on pastures as well as feeding in shallow water and often associates with Brent Geese in estuaries and on coastal farmland.
A common summer visitor to the north of the Palearctic region breeding in Iceland and northern Britain, throughout most of Scandinavia except southern Sweden and across northern Russia to the Pacific. More scattered populations breed in Poland and the Baltic States and occasionally small numbers breed south of main range in southern Britain and eastern Europe.
Present in breeding range April-September, widespread in winter and found along many coastlines from Iceland, the British Isles and Denmark south to the North African coast. Also around the Black and Caspian Seas and in southern Iraq and eastwards across temperate Asia. Small numbers occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia.
Vagrants have been recorded on the Azores and Madeira, Borneo, Sulawesi and Hawaii. Regular in small numbers on both coasts of North America and a common migrant through the Aleutians.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1], which is sometimes placed in the genus Mareca.
Habitat
Breeds in dense cover close to freshwater lakes and marshes in open and sometimes wooded areas. Highly gregarious in winter around estuaries and on coastal grassland. Grazes on pastures as well as feeding in shallow water and often associates with Brent Geese in estuaries and on coastal farmland.
Behaviour
Flocks readily with other ducks: e.g. Teal, Tufted Duck and Pochard. Rising whistling contact call is distinctive and unique.
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