Biology:Wigeon
The wigeons or widgeons are a group of birds, dabbling ducks currently classified in the genus Mareca along with two other species. There are three extant species of wigeon, in addition to one recently extinct species.
Biology
There are three extant species: the Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope; formerly Anas penelope), the American wigeon (M. americana; formerly A. americana) and the Chiloé wigeon (M. sibilatrix; formerly A. sibilatrix). A fourth species, the Amsterdam wigeon (M. marecula; formerly A. marecula), became extinct in the 19th century. The wigeons' closest relatives, forming with them the genus Mareca, are the Gadwall and the Falcated Duck.[1][2]
All three wigeons are similarly shaped, with a steep forehead and bulbous rear to the head. All three wigeon species hybridise in captivity[3] while American and Eurasian wigeons hybridise in the wild.[4] An American Wigeon × Mallard hybrid has also been recorded.[5]
The American wigeon was formerly called the baldpate by ornithologists, and some people still use that name, especially hunters.
The diet of the wigeon consists mainly of grass leaves (~80%); other food types eaten are seeds (~10%) and roots and stems (~5%).[6]
Wigeons were formerly classified in the genus Anas but following a study in 2009 five extant species (3 species of wigeon, plus gadwall and falcated duck) were transferred to the resurrected genus Mareca.[7]
References
- ↑ Johnson, KP; Sorenson, MD (1999). "Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus: Anas): A comparison of molecular and morphological evidence". The Auk 116 (3): 792–805. doi:10.2307/4089339. http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v116n03/p0792-p0805.pdf.
- ↑ Gonzalez, J.; Düttmann, H.; Wink, M. (2009). "Phylogenetic relationships based on two mitochondrial genes and hybridization patterns in Anatidae". Journal of Zoology 279 (3): 310–318. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00622.x.
- ↑ Jiguet, Frédéric (1999). "Photo-forum: hybrid American Wigeons". Birding World 12 (6): 247–52.
- ↑ Carey, Geoff J. (1993). Hybrid male wigeon in East Asia Hong Kong Bird Report 1992 160-6
- ↑ Fedynich, Alan M.; Rhodes, Olin E. Jr. (1993). "Mallard × American Wigeon Hybrid on the Southern High Plains of Texas". The Southwestern Naturalist 38 (2): 179–181. doi:10.2307/3672079. Bibcode: 1993SWNat..38..179F.
- ↑ Owen, Myrfyn; Thomas, G. J. (1979-01-01). "The Feeding Ecology and Conservation of Wigeon Wintering at the Ouse Washes, England". Journal of Applied Ecology 16 (3): 795–809. doi:10.2307/2402854. Bibcode: 1979JApEc..16..795O.
- ↑ https://gsejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12711-024-00904-8#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20five%20wigeon,increase%20to%2055%20%5B10%5D.
Further reading
- Bailey HH (1919). "An interesting hybrid of Mareca penelope (Widgon) and Mareca americana (Baldpate)". Wilson Bulletin 31: 25.
- "Aging of American and Eurasian Wigeons in female-type plumages". Birding 37 (2): 156–164. http://www.aba.org/birding/v37n2p156.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- "Wigeon × Chiloé Wigeon hybrid resembling American Wigeon". British Birds 61: 169–171. 1968. https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/wigeon-x-chiloe-wigeon-hybrid-resembling-american-wigeon/.
- Harrop A (1994). "Photo-forum: a presumed hybrid American Wigeon in Grampian". Birding World 7: 116–7.
- Harrop A (1994). "Field identification of American Wigeon". Birding World 7: 50–56.
- Jiquet F (1999). "Photo forum: Hybrid American Wigeons". Birding World 12: 247–252.
- Larkin P (2000). "Eyelid colour of American Wigeon". British Birds 93: 39–40.
- MacKay A (1996). "Hybrid wigeon resembling American Wigeon in Leicestershire". Birding World 9: 146–7.
- Shiota T (1987). "A challenge in the identification of hybrid American and Eurasian Wigeon". Yacho 496: 6, 18–19.
- "A review of status and identification of American Wigeon in Britain and Ireland". British Birds 96: 2–22. 2003. https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/a-review-of-the-status-and-identification-of-american-wigeon-in-britain-ireland/.
- Watson GE (1970). "A presumed wild hybrid Baldpate × Eurasian Wigeon". The Auk 87 (2): 353–7. doi:10.2307/4083926. http://sora.unm.edu/node/21985.
External links
Photographs of hybrid wigeons can be seen here and here .
Wikidata ☰ Q2724806 entry
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