{"id":32351,"date":"2026-01-22T14:41:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T22:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birdsconnectsea.org\/?p=32351"},"modified":"2026-01-22T14:41:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T22:41:55","slug":"whos-in-town-american-wigeons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birdsconnectsea.org\/2026\/01\/22\/whos-in-town-american-wigeons\/","title":{"rendered":"Who’s In Town? American Wigeons"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-30px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”11.8px” custom_margin=”-17px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

American Wigeon | Eric Ashman | Audubon Photography Awards\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||17px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

by Wren Wagenbach, NextGen Councilmember<\/em><\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

American Wigeon<\/b> – <\/span>Mareca americana<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Large flocks of Wigeons have descended on Seattle lakes and coastal areas for the winter! American Wigeons spend the summer on the inland marshes of the midwest and Canadian prairies, but opt for lakes and coastal estuaries during the colder months. These ducks are versatile foragers, they can be found in flocks on land or dabbling in the water, and often steal food from other ducks when they come to the surface. While they\u2019re spending time here the birds will begin to pair off, with most older individuals finding their mate before spring migration (so, keep an eye out for breeding displays)!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Males are quite distinctive with their prominent, white foreheads, green ear patches, blue bill, and pinkish brown chest and sides. Females are more drab in comparison, but also have a distinct forehead bulge, grey head, and pinkish body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you consider their baby blue bills, adorable name, and winsome face I think it\u2019s safe to say that Wigeons are the world\u2019s cutest duck. They even sound sweet. The males are calling right now, so if you\u2019re near water make sure to keep an ear out for \u201cwhee-whee-whee-whew\u201d that sounds like it\u2019s coming from a kid’s rubber ducky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a visual description of what they sound like:<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/birdsconnectsea.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-22-at-2.35.35-PM.png&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”American Wigeon” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”11.8px” custom_margin=”-17px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Recording of a male Wigeon wistle by Mike Anderson (2006) via ebird.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i>
<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

American Wigeons are some of the most vocal dabbling ducks, the male\u2019s three-part whistling call also sounds sort of like a high pitched, nasally kazoo. Females don\u2019t whistle in the same way but may be making harsh grunts or growls during courtship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/birdsconnectsea.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-22-at-2.38.53-PM.png&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”Screenshot 2026-01-22 at 2.38.53\u202fPM” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” alt=”Female Wigeon” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”11.8px” custom_margin=”-17px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Recording of female Wigeon growls by Gerrit Vyn (2007) via ebird.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/em>
<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Sonograms, or spectrograms, are visual depictions of sound that help scientists visualize natural noises. Recordings are measured by frequency, or pitch, (Y-axis) over time (X-axis), and read from left to right. These images can reveal complexities within a sound that the human ears are unable to distinguish. Learning bird calls can feel like trying to learn another language, and I find it super helpful to try to visualize the shapes that the sounds make – especially when there is not a clear phonetic spelling or saying to transcribe the song into.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope you enjoy getting out in the rain with dabbling ducks this winter, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for the ever charming American Wigeon. Happy birding!<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”gcid-5a1ca006-481f-4215-8348-29a193f148ac” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px|||” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-5a1ca006-481f-4215-8348-29a193f148ac%22:%91%22color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_team_member name=”Wren Wagenbach” position=”NextGen Councilmember” image_url=”https:\/\/birdsconnectsea.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Wren-Bio-Pic-e1764093812400.jpg&#8221<\/a>; _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ position_font=”||on||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”Wren Wagenbach”]<\/p>\n

Growing up, Wren (she\/her) spent lots of time casually watching the Seattle backyard birds enjoy her family\u2019s heavily seed-strewn front yard. It wasn\u2019t until moving to Montr\u00e9al for school and working in a large ornithology lab that her interest in birding was solidified. Since then, she has spent three years working in Washington\u2019s National Parks as a backcountry point count technician, identifying montane birdsong for the park\u2019s long-term monitoring program. She is passionate about birding-by-ear, wildlife conservation and land stewardship, and encouraging everyone to familiarize themselves with the plant and animal communities that they share space with. Her favorite bird is the Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch, Washington\u2019s most beautiful bird!<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”gcid-5a1ca006-481f-4215-8348-29a193f148ac” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px|||” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-5a1ca006-481f-4215-8348-29a193f148ac%22:%91%22color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Large flocks of Wigeons have descended on Seattle lakes and coastal areas for the winter! Enjoy getting out in the rain with dabbling ducks this winter, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for the ever charming American Wigeon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186787308,"featured_media":32353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.22.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" da_disable_devices=\"off|off|off\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" da_is_popup=\"off\" da_exit_intent=\"off\" da_has_close=\"on\" da_alt_close=\"off\" da_dark_close=\"off\" da_not_modal=\"on\" da_is_singular=\"off\" da_with_loader=\"off\" da_has_shadow=\"on\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.22.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-30px|auto||auto||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.22.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" min_height=\"11.8px\" custom_margin=\"-17px|||||\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]

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American Wigeons - Birds Connect Seattle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Large flocks of Wigeons have descended on Seattle lakes and coastal areas for the winter! Enjoy getting out in the rain with dabbling ducks this winter, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for the ever charming American Wigeon.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/birdsconnectsea.org\/2026\/01\/22\/whos-in-town-american-wigeons\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Who's In Town? American Wigeons - Birds Connect Seattle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Large flocks of Wigeons have descended on Seattle lakes and coastal areas for the winter! 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