Euarsian Wigeon
Scientific Name: Anas penelopeMaltese Name: Silfjun Ewropew
Family: Ducks (Anatidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Eurasian Wigeon is another graceful duck. It has a chestnut head and neck, yellow forehead, pink breast, white belly and grayish back. It also has a white band on wings. Females are paler. In flight, the bold white patch is a good feature. In Europe, It grazes short grass often in very large flocks and also feeds in shallow water. It nests in long vegetation on the ground close to the water side where it lays 8 or 9 eggs, raising one brood. It breeds in Northern Europe and also in north of UK, in large lakes and moorlands. In winter, it migrates to south-west Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. The Wigeon is known to live up to 15 years.
Status:
Is not common but is mostly recorded in singles or small flocks in autumn and winter.
When to See:
Mostly recorded from October until January, often with a few singles dragging on until March at Ghadira Nature Reserve.
Where to See:
Ghadira Nature Reserve is a good site to see this bird where a few individuals spend a few hours or days resting and feeding. Occasionally seen offshore while sea watching, mainly at Cirkewwa and Qawra in small flocks.
Photographs:
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Close-up view of Male Wigeon, Simar Nature Reserve |
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| Male Wigeon, Simar Nature Reserve | Female Wigeon, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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Female Wigeons, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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