Stats

Lifespan

2-21 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Flock

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

A dabbling duck of North American wetlands, nicknamed the 'baldpate' for the male's creamy white forehead stripe that flashes above an iridescent green eye patch. Unlike most ducks, wigeons often graze on land, grabbing mouthfuls of grass alongside geese.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A clutch of eggs rests in a down-lined nest near water, covered and warmed by the brooding female.
2. 2.
   hatchling

   A downy hatchling follows its mother to the water within hours and feeds itself almost immediately.
3. 3.
   juvenile

   A juvenile grows its first true feathers, swimming in the family group and learning to dabble or dive.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown with adult plumage.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Anseriformes

Family

Anatidae

Genus

Mareca

Species

Mareca americana