American Wigeon Duck - Duck Hunting - Wetland Hunting
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Description
Even though most dabbling ducks inhabit the shallows, American Wigeon ducks spend most of their time grazing on land. However, these game birds spend a lot of time on deep water where they thrive by stealing food from other birds like diving ducks or coots.
Description
The male and female American wigeon ducks have tipped bills which are bluish-black. The male American wigeon has a white patch that runs from the forehead to the middle of the crown with a characteristic green band from the eye to the back of the head. The male's breast is pinkish-brown with white flank feathers that separate the sides from the black under tail coverts. The legs & feet range from blue-gray to dark gray. On the other hand, female American wigeon has a gray head that has a brownish-black crown with the chest and side also having a brown color. Their legs and feet range from blue-gray to dark gray. The American wigeon ducks measure between 42 and 59 cm in length, weigh 540 – 1330g and have a wingspan of 84 cm.
Habitat
Regardless of the time of the year, the American wigeon ducks can be found in slow-moving rivers, flooded fields, bays, estuaries, marshes, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. During migration and winter, these game birds occupy coastal estuaries, inland lakes & ponds and fresh or salt marshes.
Diet
The American wigeon ducks mostly feed on plant materials like wild celery, eelgrass, pondweeds, sedges, and algae. Sometimes, these ducks feed on insects and snails to supplement the plant material diet. On land, these birds consume seeds, waste grains, and grass shoots.
Nesting
Pairing starts on wintering grounds with the older females pairing before the spring migration. It is common for several males to court one female after impressing her with courtship displays. In courtship display, the males extend their necks forward and lower their heads. Then, they open the bills, raise the tips of their folded wings to reveal white patches.
The nest site is on dry land although sometimes the site can be on an island concealed by tall grass or vegetation. The nest is built by the females on a shallow depression that's lined with grasses and weeds. The nests are built near sources of water (about ½ a mile from a source of water at most).
Eggs
The female American wigeon ducks usually lay 8 to 11 eggs although some lay between 5 and 12 eggs. Incubation is done by the female ducks only for 23 to 24 days. Male ducks leave before the eggs hatch while the young ones leave the nest to feed themselves shortly after hatching. Female American wigeon ducks remain with their brood for a while until they start flying. The young ones can start flying after 45 to 63 days.
