I took this photo yesterday while we were birding at Talking
Water Gardens in Albany, The upper bird is an American Wigeon, and the lower
one is an Eurasian Wigeon. The American
Wigeon spends the summer in Canada and Alaska, migrating south to winter along
the west coast and further south. The Eurasian Wigeon summers in Eurasia and
winters south in the tropics except for a few that drop off to winter along the
northwest coast.
I last photographed and wrote about these two different species
of Wigeons last January. The American species is a common winter resident to
the Willamette Valley and can easily be seen in large numbers on our lakes and
ponds. This was the case yesterday; we
saw an estimated 250 of these at Talking Waters. The Eurasian species is a different story,
they are considered un-common, but when seen it is common to see them singly
mixed in with large flocks of Americans.
We only saw this one lone Eurasian and it was in the last pond after
spending almost two hours looking through all the Americans.
I am intrigued with the fact that these two ducks represent
two different continents, and yet here they are sharing time together in a
little pond in Albany, Oregon. According to Wikipedia, “Eurasia is the combined
continental landmass of Europe and Asia.” Lots of questions float through my
mind. In what country was the Eurasian
born and raised; perhaps Russia, or China, or even India? And what language does this duck quack in?
Can his new American friends understand him? And, is it possible he will he be
a good ambassador to future generations of migrating ducks, and promote better
understanding of these two different continents. Oops, maybe too much time on the computer.
Great questions..... if only you could understand duck!
ReplyDeleteThese two widgeons you report on are already trying to improve intercontinental relations by hybridizing. It can be quite a treat to have these three versions in close view out on the water. Lee
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