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Wigeon Anas penelope [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
BTO Codes:
WN , WIGEO
EURING No:
1790
Number in Britain:
406 thousand birds (Winter)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern(Winte
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
Monotypic
.
Length:
48 cm
Wingspan:
80 cm
Weight:
M: 800 g F: 650 g
Scientific name from:
L.: anas =a duck
and Gr.: penelops =a type of duck
World Distribution:
BREEDS: n&c Europe & Asia, WINTERS: south to n Africa, s Asia & local in North America
Habitat:
Marsh, lakes, open moor, on migration also estuaries
Diet:
Mostly leaves, shoots, rhizomes, also some seeds
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Winter:
406 thousand individuals
in 1994-99
Summer:
300 to 500 pairs
in 1988-91
First Record:
1508
[Fossil evidence from
Middle Pleistocene, c. 500,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
Unavailable
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(II,III), WBD(II*,III*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
55 x 39 mm
Egg Weight:
44.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
4
Clutch Size:
8 - 9 eggs
Incubation:
24 - 25 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
40 - 45 days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
842
Adult Survival:
0.53
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
34yr7m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
F*
Wing Length
Adult:
259.4 ± 10.4
Range
242 - 275 mm, N =4667
Juvenile:
253.5 ± 9.6
239 - 268 mm, N =867
Male:
265.8 ± 6.8
255 - 276 mm, N =2820
Female:
249.6 ± 6.5
239 - 260 mm, N =1846
Weight
Adult:
748.5 ± 85.65
Range
610.0 - 890.0 g , N =4171
Juvenile:
676.0 ± 86.35
540.0 - 820.0 g , N =702
Male:
780.2 ± 77.03
660.0 - 905.0 g , N =2513
Female:
700.4 ± 75.02 .
580.0 - 825.0 g , N =1657
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Eurasian Wigeon
Gaelic:
Glas-lach
Welsh:
Chwiwell
Danish:
Pibeand
Dutch:
Smient
Finnish:
Haapana
French:
Canard siffleur
German:
Pfeifente
Hungarian:
Fütyülo réce
Icelandic:
Rauðhöfðaönd
Irish:
Rualacha
Italian:
Fischione
Norwegian:
Brunnakke
Polish:
Swistun zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Piadeira
Spanish:
Anade silbón
Swedish:
Bläsand
Local Names: Whistler / Half Duck
Collective Noun: Company
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Kear, J 2005 Ducks, geese and swans Oxford University Press
[598.48 KEA]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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