Wigeon

Wigeon
Wigeons
Male (rear) and female (front) Eurasian Wigeons
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subgenus: Mareca
Species
  • Anas americana
  • Anas sibilatrix
  • Anas penelope

The wigeons are dabbling ducks in the genus Anas. There are three species: the Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope), the American Wigeon (A. americana) and the Chiloe Wigeon (A. sibilatrix). Widgeon is an alternative, though archaic, spelling; the American Wigeon has in the past been known as Baldpate. All three are similarly shaped, with a steep forehead and bulbous rear to the head. Males have a distinctive breeding plumage, in their eclipse plumage they resemble females, which are similar in appearance year-round.[citation needed] The three species' closest relatives within the genus Anas are the Gadwall and the Falcated Duck.[1] All three wigeon species hybridise in captivity,[2] and American and Eurasian Wigeons hybridise in the wild.[3] An American Wigeon × Mallard hybrid has also been recorded [4]

Contents

References

Male (front) and female (rear) American Wigeons
Male (rear) and female (front) Chiloe Wigeons
  1. ^ Johnson and Sorenson, 1999
  2. ^ Jiguet, 1999
  3. ^ Carey, 1993
  4. ^ Fedynich and Rhodes, 1993

Literature cited

Identification

External links

Photographs of hybrid wigeons can be seen here and here.



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • wigeon — [wij′ən] n. [prob. < MFr vigeon < L vipio, small crane, of Balearic orig.] any of certain wild freshwater ducks; esp., a) the Eurasian wigeon ( Anas penelope), the male of which has a cream colored crown and reddish brown head and neck b)… …   English World dictionary

  • Wigeon — Wi geon, n. (Zo[ o]l.) A widgeon. [R.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wigeon — (also widgeon) ► NOUN ▪ a dabbling duck with mainly reddish brown and grey plumage, the male having a whistling call. ORIGIN perhaps of imitative origin and suggested by PIGEON(Cf. ↑pigeon) …   English terms dictionary

  • wigeon — /wij euhn/, n., pl. wigeons, (esp. collectively) wigeon. widgeon. * * * or widgeon Any of four species of dabbling ducks, popular game and food birds. The male European wigeon (Anas penelope) has a reddish head, cream forehead, and gray back. The …   Universalium

  • wigeon — or widgeon noun (plural wigeon or wigeons or widgeon or widgeons) Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1513 any of several freshwater ducks (genus Anas): as a. an Old World duck (Anas penelope) having a large white patch on each wing with the male… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • wigeon — noun Any of three freshwater dabbling ducks …   Wiktionary

  • wigeon — n. widgeon, freshwater Eurasian duck having a white spot on each wing; wild freshwater North American duck having a shiny white crown …   English contemporary dictionary

  • wigeon — [ wɪdʒ(ə)n] (also widgeon) noun a dabbling duck with mainly reddish brown and grey plumage, the male having a whistling call. [Anas penelope (Eurasia) and A. americana (N. America).] Origin C16: perh. of imitative origin and suggested by pigeon1 …   English new terms dictionary

  • wigeon — wig•eon [[t]ˈwɪdʒ ən[/t]] n. pl. eons, (esp. collectively) eon. orn either of two dabbling ducks, Anas americana, of North America, and A. penelope, of Eurasia, having white patches on the forewings • Etymology: 1505–15 …   From formal English to slang

  • wigeon — /ˈwɪdʒən/ (say wijuhn) noun → widgeon …  

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