Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian WigeonEurasian WigeonEurasian WigeonEurasian Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Silhouette: Lauren McLean · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Keoladeo National Park
820 Verified sightings at Keoladeo National Park From 2019 to 2026
13,710 Verified sightings across all 40 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Eurasian Wigeon

The Eurasian wigeon or European wigeon (Mareca penelope), also known as the widgeon or wigeon, is one of three extant species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus Mareca. It is common and widespread within its Palearctic range.

The Eurasian wigeon was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae under the binomial name Anas penelope. Anas is the Latin word for "duck", and penelope refers to a duck said to have saved Penelope when she was thrown into the sea. Her name derives from Ancient Greek πήνη pene, "braid" and ὤψ ops "appearance", from the ruse she used to deter suitors while her husband Ulysses was away. Following a study in 2009, 5 species of Wigeon were transferred to the resurrected genus Mareca, so the current binomial name is now Mareca penelope.

This dabbling duck is 42–52 cm (17–20 in) long with a 71–80 cm (28–31 in) wingspan, and a weight of 500–1,073 g (1–2 lb). The breeding male has grey flanks and back, with a black rear end, a dark green speculum and a brilliant white patch on upper wings, visible in flight or at rest. It has a pink breast, white belly, and a chestnut head with a creamy crown... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Keoladeo National Park

Gadwall
LC

Gadwall

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca strepera

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Falcated Duck
LC

Falcated Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca falcata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Indian Spot-billed Duck
LC

Indian Spot-billed Duck

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Anas poecilorhyncha

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Northern Shoveler
LC

Northern Shoveler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula clypeata

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Bar-headed Goose
LC

Bar-headed Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser indicus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Northern Pintail
LC

Northern Pintail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas acuta

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Greylag Goose
LC

Greylag Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser anser

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Ruddy Shelduck
LC

Ruddy Shelduck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tadorna ferruginea

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Lesser Whistling-Duck
LC

Lesser Whistling-Duck

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Dendrocygna javanica

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Garganey
LC

Garganey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula querquedula

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Comb Duck
LC

Comb Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
~70%
2 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~40%
3 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~40%
4 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~30%
5 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
6 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
7 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~30%
8 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
9 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
10 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~10%
11 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
12 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~10%
13 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
14 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
15 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
16 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
17 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
18 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
20 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
<5%
21 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
22 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
<5%
23 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
24 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
25 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
26 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
27 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
28 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
29 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
Insufficient data
30 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
Insufficient data
31 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
Insufficient data
32 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
33 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
Insufficient data
34 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
Insufficient data
35 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
36 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
37 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
38 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
Insufficient data
39 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
40 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Wigeon in Keoladeo National Park?

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Wigeon sighting in Keoladeo National Park, based on 820 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Eurasian Wigeon in Keoladeo National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Eurasian Wigeon in Keoladeo National Park in our monthly data.

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