AMERICAN WIDGEON
(BALDPATE)
(Anas Americana)
|
DESCRIPTION The Drake has white on the top of the head, a green band from his eye to the rear of the head, pink breast, whitish belly, bright green wing speculum, white leading edge of the wing, and blue gray feet and bill. The Hen has a grayish head, brownish back, tannish-red flanks and breast, white belly, black or dark brownish gray wing speculum, sometimes with a spot of green, the leading edge of the wing is more grayish than white, with blue-gray feet and bill SIZE Average Length = 20" Average Weight = 1.75lbs Wingspan = 32" |
ABOUT THEM The Widgeon or Baldpate is considered the thief among Ducks sometimes sitting with Divers waiting for them to bring food up from the surface and than stealing it from them. The Widgeon fly's in small compact flocks in irregular formation. Their flight is fast and erratic reaching speeds of 70mph. They have a high pitched voice making a wee, wee, wee, sound with the Hen making a Qua-awk noise. They seem to migrate in large flocks down the pools of the Mississippi. The American Widgeon nests farthest north of all Puddle Ducks except the Pintail. They breed in Northern Canada. The Hen lays an average of 9 eggs. They migrate very early to their wintering grounds of California, the Texas Panhandle, Gulf of Mexico, eastern Arkansas, and western Tennessee. They also visit Central America, the Caribbean, northern Columbia, and Trinidad. They are one of the most abundant Ducks in North America, with a estimated breeding population of 2.5 million in 2001, which is below the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) of 3 million Ducks. |