Size: 16" from bill to tail, by 5" high, by 6" wide. Price: $109.00

Physical Description
The European wigeon is a gaily-colored duck. The male is most notable because of its bright russet-red head. It has a yellowish-cream stroke at its forehead, a rust colored breast, pale gray back and sides with a white patch. The female is more subdued in color with spotted dark brown body plumage with faint rust colored sides, paler colored head and neck, and a shadowy eye patch. Her bill is a distinctive blue with a black tip. The adult bird averages 17.5 to 19.5 inches in length.

Average Weight Range
On average, a mature wigeon weighs 1.5 pounds.

Reproduction
The European wigeon does not breed in North America outside of captivity; however, it is a visitor along both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The nest commonly contains seven to eight cream-white eggs secreted in heavy plant growth. Incubation period averages 22 to 24 days and the male sometimes takes part in the incubation stage.

Food Usage/Selection
The wigeon spends much of its time grazing on a variety of grasses and sedges. It has been observed stealing food from a diving duck as it pops to the surface after a dive.

Range
In the wild, the European wigeon is found in Northern Europe and Asia, and can be found in Western Europe in the winter. It also lives in North Africa, India, and China, and on occasions, it has been spotted on both coasts of North America.

Habitat
The European wigeon prefers marshes, ponds, lakes, tidal marshes and bays.

Common Hunting Methods
If a hunter harvests a European wigeon, it is normally taken incidentally as it travels with a flock of American wigeons. Waterfowl are harvested using many different types of shotguns. The three popular methods of hunting ducks are pass shooting, jump shooting and decoying. The methods are frequently combined during a hunt. A retrieving dog is valuable and is used by most avid waterfowl hunters.

Hunting Challenges/Values
Possessing both keen eyesight and a strong, fast flying ability, the
duck can present quite a challenge to the hunter. The fact that the best hunts usually take place in less than favorable weather conditions adds to this challenge. The European widgeon is harvested for its tasty meat and its beautiful mounts.

Interesting Tidbits
"Wigeon" is also spelled "widgeon".

This bird is known in other parts of the world as a Whistling duck because of the sound of its call.

The European wigeon does not breed in North America.