Photo 1: A Male and a Female American Wigeon.

American Wigeon: Anas Americana

American Wigeon are common winter residents to the shores around Vancouver Island. They are dabblers, feeding on plants in shallow water.

Identification: Male American Wigeons have a white forehead with a green postocular patch. They have blue-white bills with black tips. Females have a gray head and neck with a brown body. Their bills are gray with black tips. Eurasian Wigeons are similar, but males lack the green postocular patch.

Other Vancouver Island Birds: Bald Eagle, Trumpeter Swan, Blue Grouse, Common Merganser

American Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, Mallard, Bufflehead, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Varied Thrush