How to identify the Wigeon

To correctly identify the Wigeon (Mareca penelope), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

42-59 cm (16.5-23.2 in)

Wingspan

71-80 cm (28-31.5 in)

Weight

500-1070 g (1.1-2.4 lbs)

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Adult male (breeding): Chestnut head with a prominent creamy-yellow stripe from the forehead to the crown. Pinkish-brown breast, grey flanks and back with fine vermiculations, white belly. A distinctive white patch on the upperwing (speculum) is visible in flight. The rear is black with a white patch on either side of the tail. Adult female: Mottled reddish-brown and grey plumage overall, with a paler belly. The white wing patch is less prominent or absent compared to the male. Juvenile: Resembles the female but is duller and more heavily streaked.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Small, short, and bluish-grey with a black tip.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown.

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Greyish-blue with darker webs.

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   Males are easily identified by their golden forehead patch and whistling call. Both sexes have a small, rounded head and a short bill. The white belly and white wing patch (especially prominent in males) are good field marks in flight.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally duller, with more indistinct markings and a more heavily streaked appearance.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   Males undergo an eclipse plumage in late summer (July-September), resembling the female but often retaining some chestnut on the head and a more distinct white wing patch. They regain their breeding plumage by late autumn.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   Pronounced. Males are much more brightly colored than females, especially during the breeding season. Females are duller, mottled brown.

Key field marks

• Male Plumage (Breeding). Look for the distinctive chestnut head with a creamy-yellow forehead stripe, grey body, pinkish-brown breast, and a prominent white patch on the upperwing (speculum) in flight.
• Female Plumage. Observe the mottled reddish-brown and grey body, paler belly, and a less distinct or absent white wing patch compared to the male. The small, rounded head and short bill are key.
• Call. Listen for the male's clear, two-note whistling 'whee-oo' call, which is highly characteristic and often given in flight or on the water.
• Flight Pattern. Note their fast, direct flight with rapid wingbeats. The white belly and white wing patches are good identifiers in flight.
• Feeding Behavior. Watch for their characteristic 'tipping up' behavior to graze on submerged vegetation, or grazing on short grass on land, often in large groups.

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