Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
ANATIDAE Members: American Wigeon 173
General Comments
The American Wigeon winters over much of the state and has a distribution like so many other waterfowl species -- most numerous along and near the coast, much less numerous inland, and often rare in the mountains. Wintering habitat is typically lakes and impoundments, less often at ponds and other smaller bodies of fresh water; these waters are usually in open areas, away from forests.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
S5N
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Winter resident. Common to locally very common in the Tidewater and coastal areas south to Dare and Hyde, but only locally fairly common farther south near the coast. Uncommon inland in the province. Mostly early Sep to early Apr. A few summer records of non-breeding birds. Peak counts: 30,683, Mattamuskeet NWR CBC, 29 Dec 2017.
Piedmont
Uncommon winter resident, though locally fairly common (but seldom common anywhere), generally in the eastern portion of the province. Seems to have declined somewhat in the past decade, and often missed on CBC's. Early Oct to mid-Apr. Peak counts: 1,022, Pee Dee NWR, 4 Jan 2001.
Mountain
Rare winter visitor, mainly at low elevations. Late Oct into Apr. Peak counts:
Finding Tips
This species is easier to find than most other dabbling ducks near the coast, though it is still hard to find in many inland counties. Coastal NWR's are excellent sites for the species in fall and winter.