American Wigeon Mareca americana

This species was formerly placed in the genus Anas.

American Wigeon is a rare but regular visitor to the UK. However, observers should be aware of the possibility of confusion with hybrid Wigeon - a number of reported American Wigeon I have gone to see have turned out to be Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrids, Eurasian Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon hybrid or even Gadwall x Chiloe Wigeon hybrids. Another pitfall for the unwary is pure Eurasian Wigeon with green behind their eyes - such birds are often misidentified either as American Wigeon or their hybrids.

American Wigeon (with Eurasian Wigeon), Cley (Norfolk, UK), 3rd January 2011

American Wigeon (with Eurasian Wigeon), Holkham (Norfolk, UK), 17th January 2004

American Wigeon (with Eurasian Wigeon), Loch of Lowes (Perth & Kinross, UK), 7th February 20243

American Wigeons, Emerald Lake (British Columbia, Canada), 17th September 2006

American Wigeon, Boundary Bay (British Columbia, Canada), 8th September 2006

American Wigeon, near Revelstoke (British Columbia, Canada), 15th September 2006

American Wigeons (with Gadwall in background), Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary (British Columbia, Canada), 8th September 2006

This species is sometimes found in wildfowl collections.

captive American Wigeon, Martin Mere (Lancashire, UK), 26th December 2014