Michael and Hal,

I've seen lots of wigeons like that. I believe it is a not uncommon variant
on the American Wigeon. Perhaps one in 100 or even more frequent in local
flocks.

Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com

At 04:47 PM 1/11/98 -0800, you wrote:
>At 4:02 PM -0800 01/11/1998, Michael Kennedy wrote:
>
>>I'm writing to request quick (or lengthy) feedback concerning a male
>>American Widgeon visiting a local pond.
>>
>>The bird in question is unique to me because the cheeks below the green
>>swatch which covers the eyes are a smooth and solid cream colour. This
>>extension of cream makes it look as if the bald pate has flowed over the
>>bird's forehead and down to the top of his chest.
>>
>>The separation between the cream colour and the back of the neck, the
>>top of the chest, and the bill is so sharp that it appears to be marked
>>by a black line.
>>
>>There does not appear to be anything else remarkable about this bird.
>>The flanks are the rusty brown of the other widgeons in the pond, and,
>>except for the Eurasian x American Hybrid also at the pond, there is
>>nothing to suggest that the bird would be anything but a full American
>>Widgeon.
>>
>>My question then - can anyone tell me if they have observed a similar
>>bird, or if this bird might be representative of a regular colour
>>variation for the species?
>
>Michael et al.:
>
>Thanks for posting this. My wife (JoLynn Edwards) and I observed a male
>Eurasian Wigeon here in Medina (a Seattle suburb) this winter that matches
>your description exactly. I have been meaning to research the topic ever
>since and haven't gotten to it. So, this is a fine opportunity to ask
>around, as you have done.
>
>After studying the unusual bird, we spent some time scanning the large
>flock it was part of -- maybe 200 wigeons, half of them males -- and found
>one other individual where the cheeks were intermediate between the typical
>greyish speckled coloration and the cream color, with the cream fading
>downward into the "normal" pattern. Other than those two cases, all of the
>birds were essentially identical to one another as far as the faces were
>concerned.
>
>Hal Opperman
>Medina, WA 98039
>(425) 635-0503
>
>
>
>