I've been seeing birds like this also. One in Arcata, CA, and
several in Clarkston, WA. In Clarkston I was able to examine the
birds much more closely. To me it almost looked like an intermediate
stage in a molt, because the birds, at very close range, showed
varying amounts of gray speckles. Throughout the flock (Clarkston)
there was a continuous gradation from these strange cream heads to
the common gray heads.

But of course, if anyone else knows this to be a different bird,
please share. I've searched through several books on various
countries to no avail.
jw

> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 23:01:02 -0800
> Reply-to: brotep at whidbey.net
> From: Freda Tepfer <brotep at whidbey.net>
> To: "'Tweeters'" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Undetermined widgeon

> I was checking out a flock of widgeon this morning on the Stillaguamish flats, looking for a Eurasian. I located one and kept looking. Shortly I noticed a widgeon with different coloration. It had >
> David Brock
>
Jane Westervelt
Steve Kalloger
Moscow, ID