Family:
The American wigeon, also known as the baldpate is a medium-sized dabbling duck with a round head, short neck, and small bill. Males in breeding plumage have a mask of green feathers around their eyes and a cream-coloured cap that runs from its crown to its bill. They have large white shoulder patches on the wings.
Female American wigeons have grey and brown plumage. Both sexes have a pale blue bill with a black tip, a white belly, and grey legs and feet.
They are gregarious birds outside of breeding season, forming large flocks of thousands of individuals.
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American wigeons feed by dabbling for plant matter or grazing on land for grasses, grains, clover, and lettuce. They will also occasionally eat invertebrates during the summer.
American wigeons are widespread across North America, found in all areas except the extreme north of Canada and Alaska. They live near marshes, lakes, estuaries, and rivers.
