American Wigeon Anas american
STANFORD LOCATIONS: Uncommon winter visitor at Lagunita, usually seen foraging in shallows at the edge of the lake.

Nest Location	Nest Type	Eggs Mating System	Dev. Parental Care	Primary & 2ndary Diet	Foraging Strategy
			F I: 23-25 DAYS PRECOCIAL 2
	F	7-10 (6-12) MONOG	F: 37-48 DAYS F	AQUATIC INVERTS

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BREEDING:	Marshes, freshwater areas with exposed shoreline, lakes, islands. 1 brood.
DISPLAYS:	See: Duck Displays.
NEST:	Often far from water. Concealed; filled with dry grass and plant stems, lined with finer materials. Down added as incubation advances.
EGGS:	White. 2.1" (54 mm).
DIET:	Grass, grain, aquatic veg, fewer seeds than most dabblers; aquatic invertebrates, mollusks, insects.
CONSERVATION:	Winters s to n S.A.
NOTES:	Pair bond lasts through first or second week of incubation. Male reproductive success related to persistent aggression, dominance, mate attentiveness, and displaying, esp aerial chases. Males in full plumage acquire mates earliest; males unable to acquire mates usu smaller and have lower energy (protein and lipid) reserves. If young disturbed, female feigns injury while young scatter; when young hidden, female flies away.
ESSAYS:	Bird Communities and Competition; Dabblers vs. Divers; Diet and Nutrition; Metallic Poisons; Monogamy; Feathered Nests; Distraction Displays.
REFERENCES:	Eiserer, 1976; Knupp et al., 1977, Paszkowski, 1982; Wheelwright, 1986.

Help	Abbreviations	Species-Alphabetical	Species-Taxonomic	Essays-Alphabetical	Essays-Categorized
Except for Stanford Locations, the material in this species treatment is taken, with permission, from The Birder's Handbook (Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin, & Darryl Wheye, Simon & Schuster, NY. 1988).