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American Wigeon


American Wigeon
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4804] (21334)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 100, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Anatidae photos -2- [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-12 5:39
Viewed: 381
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
An American Wigeon (Anas americana, 51cm) shot on Ile Lebel in Repentigny.

A common and increasingly abundant duck, the American Wigeon breeds in northwestern North America and is found throughout the rest of the continent in migration and in winter. Its small bill and the male's white forehead, as well as certain aspects of nesting and feeding behavior, distinguish this species from other dabbling ducks.
Description
Medium-sized duck.
Male with white crown.
Green face patch.
Large white patch in wings.
Black rear end bordered by white.
Size: 42-59 cm (17-23 in)
Wingspan: 84 cm (33 in)
Weight: 540-1330 g (19.06-46.95 ounces)
Sex Differences
Male brightly patterned with white flanks and white crown stripe; female dull gray and rusty brown.
Sound
High squeaky whistle, resembling squeaky toy. Female quacks.
Conservation Status
Populations declined by approximately 50 percent in the 1980s as a result of extended drought in prairie regions, but have since largely recovered. Widely hunted in the United States in fall, subject to federal limits.
Other Names
Canard d'Amerique (French)
Pato chalcuán, Pato americano (Spanish)
Baldpate, American Widgeon (English)
Cool Facts
The American Wigeon was formerly known as "Baldpate" because the white stripe resembled a bald man's head.
The American Wigeon is a rare, but regular straggler to Europe where it turns up in flocks of Eurasian Wigeon.
The American Wigeon's short bill enables it to exert more force at the bill tip than other dabbling ducks, thus permitting efficient dislodging and plucking of vegetation.
The America Wigeon is the dabbling duck most likely to leave water and graze on vegetation in fields. However, feeding in fields on grain, such as corn, is rather rare.
The American Wigeon's diet has a higher proportion of plant matter than the diet of any other dabbling duck.
Juyona, uleko, Argus, mayuresh, siggi, jaycee, eqshannon, goldyrs, NinaM, CeltickRanger, meyerd, albert, darwin, maurydv, wuta, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Mario, I have missed your birds, and this is a stunning bird. Great colours and wonderful details. I like the composition, the grass/reeds in and around enhance this, it is quite a shy bird, and I think you have sympathetically taken this shot to show the bird in it's environment. TFS, regards h

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2041 W: 6 N: 2025] (13275)
  • [2008-07-12 6:37]

Hola Mario,
interesante captura,
bello habitat y buen foco...
excelente trabajo,
saludos

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2008-07-12 6:55]

Hello Mariio,
What a beautiful duck this is and very nicely captured in a beautiful environment. Excellent focus and sharp details. I like the light and the fine colours too. Well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Bonjour Mario,
Bonne présentation de ce canard comme d'habitude :) superbe capture et détails , couleurs et netteté 'magnifique'
Compliments
Michel

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
  • [2008-07-12 7:54]

Hello Mario,
An excellent portrait of a male American Wigeon in a fine composition in its natural habitat. Nice POV, lighting and sharpness.
TFS this fine image of a species that is an occasional vagrant to sweden, but that I haven't seen.
Ivan

Hello Mario,
I like composition here, its very beautiful,perfect focusing and great sharpness with good lighting,
well done,
tfs

I admire anyone who can get close enough to any duck to get a shot... unless in a city park!!!! I'd need a bigger lens than my 100-400. This shot is really nice with good sharpness and detail.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 286 W: 3 N: 779] (2796)
  • [2008-07-12 9:31]

Very nice shot Mario, composition, colour and exposure is excellent. Very well done.
Regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
  • [2008-07-12 9:44]

Hi Mario,

This Wigeon appears to be hiding behind the reeds. I love the way you shot this creating a wonderful effect. Beautiful colors, lighting and good details of the duck. The setting and composition are marvelous.

Jane

Top Notch Mario...I have a few of this kind I took with my Nikon, but you show where mine went wrong. It is the patience in the settings and this case you took some time and got the depth of field down perfect. My DOF was a bit too shallow. This one is perfect.
bob

This is a very different style, Mario, not the ones we associate with you!But you've done very well here, as well!The grass as the FG comes across as very beautiful, it only increases the feel that you've captured the Wigeon in its natural habitat!
Very well done!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-07-12 12:34]

Hi Mario. Dont often see a water bird from you. This is a fine looking bird which you have captured so well with a natural look to the picture. . well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 0 N: 1388] (4593)
  • [2008-07-12 14:23]

Bonjour Mario, cette photo est très belle et, en plus, avec un canard que je ne connais pas du tout et qui semble nicher dans le coin... Malgré la lumière diffuse, les couleurs sont belles et l'eau reflète bien le ciel gris et ouateux. Cet espèce de canard est très belle et merci pour les belles notes. À bientôt!

Francine

salut Mario

quelle belle image du Canard d'Amerique, avec un excellent
POV, DOF et cadrage, j'aimes cette végétation aquatique
de l'image, belle pose du canard avec d'excellentes
netteté et détails de son plumage, TFS

Asbed

Hi Mario,
another of your really careful and loving portraits of a bird, this time a widgeon. My compliments to this one, the duck in its natural environment almost hidden. Wonderful!
Best regards
Dietrich

Bonjour Mario,
Comme d'habitude une très bonne photo de ce beau canard
Bien cordialement
Albert

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 788 W: 31 N: 20] (5002)
  • [2008-07-13 3:37]

Hi Mario,
good shot, interesting species and informations. Good work. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

Hi Mario
Lovely composition with nice natural color and fine detail
tfs jon

Splendida cattura, molto bella la composizione con l'ambientazione palustre, ottima definizione dei dettagli. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2008-07-13 10:40]

Hello Mario , A Splended shot of capture ,wonderful pose from the duck , lovely fellow , Greetings Teunie .

Bonsoir Mario,

La prise de vu rapprochée permet de distinguer les détails et les couleurs du canard. le sujet est bien cadré. Les reflets dans l'eau sont des atouts à la composition. La lumière fait ressortir les couleurs. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

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