|> From: Mary Peretz <mperetz at fred.fhcrc.org>
|> Subject: Pattern variation in male American widgeon

|> American widgeons (and a Eurasion as well) but what interested me was an
|> unusual American widgeon. A description from Waterfowl guide describes
|> the male distinctive, having whitish forehead and crown center, dark
|> green band extending back from eye over sides of head with sides of head
|> and neck greeyish white, intensely freckled with dark mottling. This bird
|> cream forehead, dark green band and sides of head and neck was cream as
|> well. There was no intense freckling with dark mottling on the cheek and
|> side of the head and there was a bit of freckling towards the neck. It
|> was a very striking pattern effect and this bird stands out in a crowd of
|> widgeons. Is there a fair amount of variation in the intense freckling
|> with dark mottling pattern or is this bird a hybrid from the South? I
|> just joined tweeters so someone else may have mentioned this bird.

According to David Sibley (Birding 26:169 (1994)) this is a rare (1:100)
but regular variant of American Wigeon. Entire head whitish except for
the green band, which is as usual. Little speckling on the neck. I've
seen it myself.
In general, the crown color can vary from practically white to almost
yellow (approaching Eurasian Wigeon). I believe young birds are more
yellow, although Madge and Burn do not mention the point. I presume
the same variation is possible in the light-headed variant. Sibley shows
a very pale cream head ; your bird sounds like it may have been darker
(more yellow in the cream).

Daan Sandee sandee at cmns.think.com
Mountain View, CA 94041