Photo: Donna Dewhurst, USFWS / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

American Wigeon (Mareca americana) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nunavut Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Prince Edward Island

See what's near you right now

The American Wigeon (Mareca americana) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 755 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Mareca
Species americana

Where it lives

Alaska, Canada and northern USA

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 755 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Gadwall

Mareca strepera

Least Concern

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Least Concern

Yellow-billed Duck

Anas undulata

Least Concern

Chiloe Wigeon

Mareca sibilatrix

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The American Wigeon is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The American Wigeon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The American Wigeon (Mareca americana) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Alaska, Canada and n USA.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 755 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9 million km².

Songs & calls

American Wigeon — Flight call, WHI-WHEE-WHEW and Grunt

Recorded by Valerie Heemstra Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the American Wigeon?

The American Wigeon is a large bird that weighs around 755 g.

Where does the American Wigeon live?

The American Wigeon is found across North America with a range covering NA Alaska, Canada and n USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the American Wigeon belong to?

The American Wigeon (Mareca americana) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the American Wigeon eat?

The American Wigeon is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the American Wigeon migrate?

The American Wigeon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the American Wigeon endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the American Wigeon make?

1 real field recording of the American Wigeon — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the American Wigeon's range?

The American Wigeon has a mapped global range of about 9 million km².