American Wigeon (LBRC)

Rare vagrant. North America.

American Wigeon: left, Freiston Shore July 15th 2011 (Russell Hayes); centre/right Kirkby GP, January 2019 (Graham Catley).

First recorded in February 1974 there have now been 23 records in total involving 19 birds, 17 of them males, two of them female. Most have turned up during the first and last quarters of the year. Like other rare wildfowl they appear to easily survive after a transatlantic crossing and associate with Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope. Hybrids with that species are reported, one example of which was a male resembling an American Wigeon at Covenham Reservoir in Oct-Nov 2016; the exact parentage was not established though. There had been at least 341 British records from 1950 up to the end of 2001 when it ceased to be considered by BBRC. The chart of seasonal occurrence below shows that they can appear at more or less any time of year, but there are more records during autumn and early spring than at other times. This suggests that birds, having crossed the Atlantic, may be passing through the county on passage perhaps in association with Eurasian Wigeon, and this may explain the appearance of hybrids.  

Finder’s report: American Wigeon at Covenham Reservoir February 12th, 1974, first county record.

by Keith Atkin.

Note: The text below is taken verbatim from the original BBRC submission by Keith Atkin. The RC (BBRC) noted that it was remarkable for all three records that year to be in spring, though there had been a marked change in their seasonal distribution in the previous two decades, so that during 1972-74 spring sightings outnumbered those in autumn and winter. The grand total for Britain and Ireland up to 1974 then stood at about 75. 

Circumstances and description 

A male with Wigeon flock on reservoir and feeding in adjacent flooded meadows. Easily told from other male Wigeons by lack of chestnut on head. Whitish crown more obvious than yellowish on Wigeon. Dark patch behind eye curving down on to back of head. In good light could be seen to be dark green. Cheeks dirty grey. Flanks darker with pinkish tone, and bill pale blue-grey with black band near tip. Otherwise, similar to Wigeon and often associated with flock when feeding, though sometimes alone on water.