Eurasian wigeon / Pfeifente (Mareca penelope)

The big gull is a Mittelmeermoewe then there's a Lachmoewe and two Pfeifenten. 2025-09-13 14:11:02 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)

Observations

First documented observation: 2021-02-24 in Neeracherried. Most recent observation: 2025-09-13 in Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake).

Description

Classification: Genus Mareca (Mareca); Tribe Dabbling ducks (Anatini); Subfamily Dabbling ducks plus extinct (Anatinae); Family Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Geography: This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology: Es ist der Ruf des Männchens, der zu dem deutschen Namen der Art geführt hat. Das Männchen leitet seine kurzen, scharfen, zwei- bis dreisilbigen pfeifenden wiu-Rufe häufig mit einem krr krkrkrr ein. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Funny red head (made me confused it with the Kolbente) that's brown with a golden forehead (Kolbente is brown, a bit lighter at the back of the head) is the obvious characteristic. Also has a nice black and white pattern on its back and wings with white-rimmed black feathers at the end of the wing, a bit of white before a black butt.
Vocalization: Male: a pleasant high pitched whistle "piiiiuuu", rapidly rising in pitch and then falling. Quite vocal. Female: a harsh "kraaa kraaa kraa" more like female diving-ducks than other dabbling-ducks. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Migration in: 02-20 - 05-10
Migration out: 09-07 - 12-31
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=45-51 cm, wingspan=75-86 cm, weight=500-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Vocalisation

Song: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss.mp3 (song)


Pfeifen, fast wie ein Rotmilan oder Mäusebussard. Ton steigt und fällt!

Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),