Eurasian Wigeon

Anas penelope (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2017-03-18 Ozernoe, Chuy Valley 2021-11-22 Balykchy bay Issyk-Kul.	© Irina Romanovskaia © Irina Romanovskaia

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits forested and shrubby river valleys and mountain lakes up to 1600 m. Appears early March – April, main movement end March – first 10 days of April, but in more northern areas end April – early May. Latest records are from mid-May in southern Kazakhstan. Nest is built under canopy of bush or high grass near water, at times up to 1 km away from water, in shallow hollow lined with dry grass stems and down. Clutches of 6-9 eggs recorded from late May – end June. Juveniles hatch mid-June, mainly July, and begin to fly mid-July – late August. Most males moult in shallow steppe lakes with reed-beds in Central and Northern Kazakhstan, where they also gather from Siberia and Kazakhstan (June – July). Autumn migration begins mid-August, peak movement September – beginning of October. Some birds linger to end November. Last years singles and small groups wintering on Sorbulak lake near Almaty and at more southern areas.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.