Eurasian Wigeon

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Wet grassland, estuaries (winter).
Diet: Grass, eelgrass.
Best time to spot: Whistling "wheoo" call.

When to look

A winter visitor, typically in the UK from September through to April. Numbers peak in January. See the January birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK winter wildfowl.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Eurasian Wigeon sits in our Common tier for the UK: one of the birds you can expect on most days out in the right habitat. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK.

Where to see it

Reserves where the Eurasian Wigeon is on the list:

• RSPB Arne
• WWT Caerlaverock
• Islay

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• American WigeonRare · Wetlands (winter vagrant)
• Falcated DuckEpic · Lakes (very rare vagrant)
• GadwallUncommon · Reservoirs
• Eurasian CurlewCommon · Moorland (summer); estuaries (winter)
• Barnacle GooseUncommon · Coastal grassland (winter)
• Black-tailed GodwitUncommon · Wet grassland

Kit that helps

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