Wigeon

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Wigeon, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Amber listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(II,III), WBD(II*,III*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

The Wigeon is best known to most UK birdwatchers as a winter visitor, especially to coastal marshes where it feeds in large flocks. However, small numbers bree,d mostly in Scotland and northern England. The mean number of pairs reported to the RBBP was 216 for the five-year period 2015–2019 but the species is under-reported and the recent and longer term trends are not known.

UK winter population

-11% decrease (1996/97–2021/22)

In winter, there are concentrations of Wigeon in the Northern Isles, the inner Moray Firth, parts of central Scotland, the Irish Sea coastal fringe, major river valleys in eastern England, estuaries of south and southeast England and the rivers, lakes and turloughs of the west midlands of Ireland. The main breeding areas are in the Pennines and in northern Scotland.

Wigeons are common winter visitors, recorded on up to 20% of lists but scarce in summer when there is a small over-summering population and small numbers breed.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	34 years 7 months 0 days (set in 1996)
Typical Lifespan	3 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.53

Wing Length	Adults	259.4±10.4 | Range 242–275mm, N=4667
	Juveniles	253.5±9.6 | Range 239-268mm, N=867
	Males	265.8±6.8 | Range 255–276mm, N=2820
	Females	249.6±6.5 | Range 239–260mm, N=1846

Body Weight	Adults	749±85.7 | Range 610–890g, N=4171
	Juveniles	676±86.4 | Range 540–820g, N=702
	Males	780±77 | Range 660–905g, N=2513
	Females	700±75 | Range 580–825g, N=1657

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	F*
Field Codes	2-letter: WN | 5-letter code: WIGEO | Euring: 1790

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

The trends in the European flyway population since 1988 are believed to have been mostly caused by climatic effects, which influence breeding productivity and may also have a marginal effect on overwinter survival (Fox et al. 2016). Decreases in Equisetum stands on breeding lakes have also been suggested as a potential driver of declines in Sweden and Finland (Pöysa et al. 2017). In the absence of UK-specific information (or knowledge about the UK trends), it is not known whether climatic or habitat conditions or other factors may be influencing UK breeding population changes.