Birdsong field guide
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
A medium-sized dabbling duck known for the male's distinctive white crown and melodic whistling. It is a highly gregarious species often found grazing in fields or stealing vegetation from other waterfowl.
What it sounds like
A high-pitched, three-note whistle given by males: 'wii-wii-wuh', often likened to the sound of a squeaky rubber toy.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
0:00 / 0:51
Field notes
- Commonly nicknamed the 'Baldpate' because the male's white forehead and crown resemble a bald head.
- They are more terrestrial than most dabbling ducks, frequently grazing on grasses and legumes in pastures like geese.
- Exhibits kleptoparasitic behavior by waiting for diving ducks or coots to surface with aquatic plants and then stealing the food.
- The species possesses a shorter, more robust bill than other dabbling ducks, specialized for plucking and shearing tough vegetation.
- In flight, both sexes display a prominent white patch on the upperwing coverts, though it is significantly brighter in males.
Habitat
Freshwater wetlands, marshes, lakes, and agricultural fields; also found in brackish coastal bays and estuaries during winter.
Range
Breeds across Alaska, western Canada, and the northern United States; winters throughout the southern U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Similar & commonly confused birds
Heard a American Wigeon?
Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.
Identify a bird by its song