American Wigeon - Mareca americana

Medium-sized, short-necked, and compact dabbling duck with short, small bill, peaked forehead, pointed tail, and narrow wings; Male has white forehead and crown, glossy green patch on side of otherwise speckled grey head and neck, pink-brown back, breast, and flanks, white forewing and belly, and black undertail. Sexes dissimilar, but no seasonal differences apart from eclipse. Juvenile closely resembles adult. Female similar to Eurasian Wigeon and care needed to clinch identification; white auxiliaries diagnostic (greyish in Eurasian Wigeon).

Eurasian Wigeon

When breeding concentrated in boreal and subarctic zones with slight overlap into temperate and fairly numerous occurrences, often sporadic, in steppe zone. Prefers shallow, open, broad, fresh waters, with ample submerged or floating vegetation. In winter assemblies on lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and deltas. Individuals not infrequently summer in winter quarters.

Most likely from September until March but has been recorded in all months in the UK.

In the breeding season it is found mainly boreal and subarctic zones.

It is a regular vagrant to the UK with over 500 records.

There were five VC55 records up to and including 2011, including male & females.