A familiar winter bird, the wigeon arrives in large flocks to our canals, rivers, reservoirs and flooded grasslands. This common dabbling duck is known for its striking appearance and distinctive calls.
Wigeons are relatively common in the UK during the winter, when they migrate south from their breeding grounds in northern Europe. These sociable ducks are often seen in close-knit groups, flying in tight formations or dabbling together on the water’s surface.
As with other ducks, wigeons sometimes mate with another species and produce hybrid ducklings. They’re known to occasionally crossbreed with the American wigeon, as well as mallards and gadwalls.
While wigeons are primarily migratory visitors to the UK, they’re far from rare during the winter months. These seasonal visitors can be found across England and Wales, making their homes in a range of wetland habitats.
There is a small breeding population, too. Most resident wigeons live in the uplands of northern Scotland, in the Lake District and along the Pennines in England. Occasionally, you might spot them further south. These resident birds favour smaller bodies of water with abundant vegetation, providing them with the cover and food they need.
What do wigeons look like?
Two male wigeons and a female wigeon
Wigeons are stocky, medium-sized ducks with short necks, rounded heads, and a pointed tail. Their grey bill is tipped with black.
Adult male wigeons are pretty-looking ducks with a pale yellow patch on their forehead and a rich chestnut brown head. Their bodies are a mix of pinkish plumage on the breast, grey towards the back, and a white patch on the belly.
Females are mottled light brown, looking somewhat like a mallard hen. Outside the breeding season, males lose some of their colourful plumage and take on a more subdued appearance, looking more like the females.
What do wigeon ducklings look like?
Juvenile wigeons resemble the adults, though they have a more mottled appearance on their bellies, lacking the striking colour contrasts of the mature birds. As they grow, they gradually take on the full adult plumage.
Wigeons are loud birds. Drakes (males) are known for their clear, two-note whistle, a sound that carries across the water and is easily recognisable. Females produce a throaty, low growl – a more subtle but equally distinctive sound.
What do wigeons eat?
Wigeons are primarily herbivores with a diet that consists mostly of aquatic plants and grasses. They feed both in the water and on land, showing a particular fondness for algae, sedge, duckweed, grass and wheat. As dabbling ducks, wigeons often upend in the water, tails in the air, as they feed just below the surface.
Eurasian wigeons spend most of their time in northern Europe, but they migrate south to the UK for the winter. During the colder months, they are most commonly found on open wetlands, such as wet grasslands and flooded fields, where they can find plenty of food.
You’ll also spot wigeons on smaller lakes, reservoirs, and along canals, where they gather in large flocks. The small breeding population in the UK typically builds their nests on the ground near water, preferring sites with plenty of cover and vegetation.
Other species to look out for
Last Edited: 19 September 2024
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