Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope x Chiloe Wigeon Mareca sibilatrix hybrid

Both species were formerly placed in the genus Anas.

Reports of vagrant American Wigeons in western Europe often turn out to be misidentified hybrids, and this is one example of a hybrid that shows a superficial resemblance to American Wigeon, although the careful observer will note a number of differences.

This bird shows a little orange colouration on the flanks but not so much as this hybrid sometimes shows. However it does show barring on the breast which is a feature inherited from Chiloe Wigeon and often a useful feature to separate this hybrid from Eurasian x American Wigeon. There were other Eurasian Wigeon present in the collection but I didn't see any Chiloe or American Wigeon.

captive Eurasian Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon hybrid, Pensthorpe (Norfolk, UK), 9th March 2014

This was with the last one in the same collection, presumably a female.

second captive Eurasian Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon hybrid, Pensthorpe (Norfolk, UK), 9th March 2014

For comparison, here are photos of the parent species.

Eurasian Wigeon, Buckenham (Norfolk, UK), 1st January 2010 and captive Chiloe Wigeon, Blakeney Quayside collection (Norfolk, UK), 4th December 2010

For more photos of these species follow the links below:

• Eurasian Wigeon
• Chiloe Wigeon