Habitat
The American wigeon is found in
freshwater marshes,
lakes,
rivers,
ponds, saltwater bays, and
estuaries.
Diet
The American wigeon is a dabbling duck, it feeds on plant matter on, or just below, the surface of the water. It eats the seeds, stems, and leafy parts of aquatic plants. Its short, stubby bill helps it exert force on plants, making it easier to pull off stems and leaves. It also eats
insects, mollusks, and
crustaceans. The American wigeon sometimes eats the seeds and shoots of plants in grain fields and meadows.
Life Cycle
The female selects a nesting site. The nest is made of grass and plant stems and lined with down. The nest is made in the tall grass or in shrubs or other plant cover. The nest is often placed far from the water. The female lays 3-11 eggs. The eggs hatch in about 25 days. The hatchlings are
precocial and leave the nest and feed themselves a day after hatching. They fledge when they are 35-48 days old.
Behavior
The American wigeon often tags along behind diving birds. It waits on the surface of the water and then snatches up the plants that the diving birds pull up!
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The American wigeon breeds from western Canada into the American Northwest. It winters mainly along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts and is found throughout the United States during migration.)
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