Went for a brief and extremely chilly jaunt around Riverbend Ponds today. I thought I saw two different kinds of duck but, after consultation of my bird guide, I realize I only saw one. But what a one! The American Wigeon is a beautiful dabbling duck with crisp coloring. The male has a creamy forehead with a large green eyepatch and a reddish-brown body with white-tipped flanks. The female has a grayish head with a cinnamon body. The bill is my favorite, being light blue with a black tip. The wigeon is a common winter resident in most areas of Colorado.
American Wigeon drake
American Wigeon hen
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