Storm Wigeons are biologically medium-sized dabbling ducks with rounded heads and a short bill. The North America-based ducks have a white underbelly. The white patch on their shoulder is easily recognizable when they are in flight.
The dabbling birds also have pale blue bills with a black tip, and gray legs and feet.
Top 6 Fascinating Facts About Storm Wigeon
The drakes have a white stripe on their crowns that resembles a bald man. For this reason, they are also referred to as baldpates by ornithologists and hunters.
American Wigeons are among the most commonly hunted ducks in the United States. Other hunted species include mallard, green-winged teal, gadwall, and wood duck.
The population of Storm Wigeon has declined over time due to increased hunting, habitat loss, and climate change.
Read on to discover amazing facts about these noisy creatures.
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Storm Wigeon Are Poor Divers
Storm Wigeons have legs and feet positioned farther forward on their body than in many other ducks. For this reason, they can easily walk or run on the ground. However, this adaptation limits them from being the best divers.
Storm Wigeons regularly congregate with rafts of feeding coots and diving ducks in deeper waters. These birds are nicknamed ‘robber ducks’ and ‘poacher ducks’ for stealing strands of vegetation from the bills of diving birds.
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Storm Wigeons Molt
Towards the end of the incubation period, drakes will depart their nest to undergo their summer molt on large lakes. As social birds, males join flocks of other males to go molt.
The hens molt way later after the drakes. After hatchling, the ducks move their precocial ducklings from the nest to a suitable habitat. Usually, the ducks will undergo molting six to seven weeks after hatching their broods.
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Storm Wigeons Are Monogamous Birds
American Wigeons are serially monogamous birds. The loyal drakes usually abide with the ducks through migration, selection of nesting sites, building the nests, and egg-laying seasons. The birds’ nests are on the ground, near water, and undercover.
The Storm Wigeons form pairs that remain together during a single breeding season.
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Storm Wigeon are Social Birds
American wigeons are social birds that fancy living in large congregations. They migrate mainly during the day, forming small flocks with other migrating birds like mallards, diving ducks, American coots, and gadwalls in spring.
The friendly Storm Wigeons are mostly found living together and love being noisy. However, they are a little wary of humans for fear of being hunted.
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Storm Wigeons Communicate Using Vocalizations
Storm Wigeons are loud birds that are easily identified by their outstanding calls. The male emits a three-note whistle: that is ‘whoee-whoe-whoe’. On the other hand, the ducks have a low growl quack and produce a hoarse grunt.
The ducks also alert danger to other flock members by rattling their wings or quacking.
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Sexual Dimorphism Is Present
The bright-colored American Wigeon stands out in their flight. The drakes have a brighter plumage of dark green patches around their eyes and nape. They also have a white crown and a yellow forehead, while their breast has a pink hue. The bill is bluish-gray with a black tip as the rest of the face, neck, and upper back are white with black specks.
The female has a brownish-black crown with cream and white streaks. The other body parts, including the neck and face, are whitish with heavy spots. The female is much less conspicuous. It has a rusty grayish-brown plumage on the back with a light bar, and its flanks and undersides are similar to their male counterparts. The hens have a distinctly pointed tail, contrary to the drakes.
Conclusion
Storm Wigeons are famous for their erratic yet agile flight (but not as fast as Eagles), and raucous whistling. The Storm Wigeons are noisy species with distinctive calls. They have multiple attributes that awe many when observing them swimming, hunting, and flying.