American wigeon

Male American wigeon swimming among fallen branches

The male American wigeon is easy to spot by the white crown that earns it the nickname baldpate, along with a glossy green patch behind the eye and a pinkish-brown body.

Wigeon graze on grass and aquatic plants at the edges of marshes and ponds, and they often feed alongside other ducks and coots.

A male wigeon’s green eye stripe and white crown are a small flash of colour on grey water, and I always look for them.

To learn more about the American wigeon and its habitat, visit its species page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Male American wigeon swimming among fallen branches
  • American wigeon pair swimming on brown water
  • American wigeon photographed in Manitoba, 3

American wigeon Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the american wigeon in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the american wigeon nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the american wigeon in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Taiga Shield, the Hudson Plains, the Southern Arctic, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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