Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

This is perhaps the most common species during spring migration that breeds exclusively in the Old World and is a typical part of the Pribilof avifauna. Eurasian Wigeons are normally present prior to coverage in May (likely arriving in mid-late April) with the species being regularly seen through mid-late June and even beyond. Summer arrivals do occasionally occur though it is more common for spring arrivals to linger into early summer with most period observations being in late June or early July. Occasional summer wanderers are recorded during late June and July, though there has yet to be a record from the end of July or beginning of August. The earliest fall arrivals are typically not found until September with this species being regular by the middle part of that month through mid-October when coverage has typically been suspended for the winter season. It is likely present much later into the fall in some years. The only mid-winter record was during an especially mild season and while it is likely that this species is present at that season on occasion it is likely not a regular winter visitor. The peaks of migration occur in mid-late May and early-mid October in the Pribilofs.

Eurasian Wigeon (right) with Emperor Goose by Barbara Lestenkof
Photo by Nat Drumheller
Photo by Cory Gregory