American Wigeon

The American Wigeon is a casual visitor to campus: a male was seen 26 Feb 2009 and another was present 7-19 Dec 2011 in the flooded basins around Badger Hill. The American Wigeon is actually quite a common winter visitor to southern California where it can usually be found on ponds, lakes, or any body of open water.

The adult male American Wigeon can be identified by its pale blue bill with distinct black border, broad white forehead stripe and iridescent green eye stripe, pinkish brown body, and white and black rump. Females have a grayish brown head and upperparts, reddish brown sides, and a pale blue bill with distinct black border. Both sexes have a white upper wing patch and an iridescent green speculum (feathers on the rear edge of the upper wing).