American wigeon

Scientific name: Mareca americana

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males display a distinctive white forehead and crown with iridescent green eye-patch, chestnut breast, and pale gray body. Females are warm brown overall with gray heads and lack the male's bold head pattern; both sexes show a bright white shoulder patch in flight.

Size and weight

Males average 480–650 g and measure 45–58 cm in length; females are slightly smaller at 400–550 g and 42–54 cm.

Habitat

American wigeons occupy shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, prairie ponds, and coastal estuaries with emergent vegetation and open water. They prefer areas with sedges, cattails, and submerged aquatic plants interspersed with clear water for visibility and escape routes.

Distribution

Breeds across northern and central North America from Alaska and Canada south to the northern Great Plains; winters throughout the continent from southern Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean, concentrating on coastal bays and inland reservoirs.

Diet

American wigeons graze extensively on aquatic plants, sedges, and algae in shallow water; they also dabble for seeds and invertebrates, with diet shifting toward vegetation in winter.

Behaviour

Highly social dabbling ducks, most active at dawn and dusk, though they feed throughout the day in undisturbed areas. They form tight flocks outside breeding season and move readily between water bodies following weather and food availability.

Hunting tips

Look for them in early morning on shallow impoundments with mudflats or sparse vegetation; they leave dabble marks and floating vegetation disturbance at feeding sites. Approach low and use water contours or vegetation for concealment; respond well to decoys placed in shallow feeding areas and to soft quacking calls. Moving slowly to intercept flocks in flight between roosting and feeding areas yields consistent opportunities.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.