American Wigeon
Mareca americana
The American Wigeon is a species of dabbling duck found in North America. It is a medium-sized bird; it is larger than a teal, but smaller than a pintail. The breeding male (drake) is a striking bird with a mask of green feathers around its eyes and a cream colored cap running from the crown of its head to its bill. This white patch gives the wigeon its other common name, baldpate (pate is another word for head). Their belly is also white. In flight, drakes can be identified by the large white shoulder patch on each wing. These white patches flash as the birds bank and turn. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.
American Widgeon, Baldpate