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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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Status in UK: (A)  Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies: Monotypic
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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
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Population and Distribution
Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Help with the 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
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(II,III), WBD(II*,III*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results: BirdTrack
Wetland Bird Survey Alerts
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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
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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
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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
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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
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus

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Email: birdfacts@bto.org

These data should be cited as:
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)

 

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