After reading the recent discussion on variable head plumages in American
Wigeon, I've been keeping an eye out for anomolous birds. Today at
Nisqually NWR, in a flock of approximately 600 wigeon, there seemed to be
quite a variation in plumage around the cheek area. While the vast
majority of birds had the classic dark flecking on a grey-to-brown
cheek below the green band behind the eye, there were a number of
variations: one bird had a creamy wash which ran from the bill to just
behind the eye; several (approx. 5) had dark flecking over a lighter or
buff-colored background; two birds had cream-colored crescents along the
cheek area (one had two distinct crescents); one bird had a creamy chin
with dark flecking along the cheek. I don't have Madge & Burn, so I
don't have access to anything more authoritative than the Audubon Master
Guide - is there a lot of reported variation in this species? Are there
geographical variations? Also in the flock were 4 Eurasian Wigeons.

Other birds of note were 8 Tree Swallows, lots of singing Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, and some *weird* domestic/Canada/White-fronted(?) Goose hybrids.


David Buckley----------------------------------------------------------------
lsdb at u.washington.edu
West Seattle, USA