Wigeon drakes are beautifully marked with white pate, green eye stripe, purplish breast and flanks, white belly and wing covert patch, and iridescent black/green speculum. The grayish hen shows white on the wing covert patch.

Drakes give a three-note whistle and get progressively noisier as spring approaches and courting flights begin.

Medium sized flocks are common in fall and winter, and like geese, will be found grazing pastures, park lawns, and golf courses.

It is a rare to locally common breeder in eastern Oregon and rare in summer in western Oregon. It is a common to abundant migrant and wintering bird statewide. In northeast Oregon, it is an uncommon summer resident, but nests locally at Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area.

Hear the call of the American wigeon

Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW