Photographer’s Note
I took this picture at the Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam. It's called a Eurasian Wigeon and here's information about is from Wikipedia:
The Wigeon or Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope, previously Mareca penelope) is one of three species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus Anas. It is common and widespread within its range. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.
This dabbling duck is 42-50 cm long with a 71-80 cm wingspan. The breeding male has grey flanks and back, with a black rear end and a brilliant white speculum, obvious in flight or at rest. It has a pink breast, white belly, and a chestnut head with a yellowish crown stripe. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.The female is light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard. It can be distinguished from most other ducks, apart from American Wigeon, on shape. However, that species has a paler head and white axillaries on its underwing.
It breeds in the northernmost areas of Europe and Asia. It is the Old World counterpart of North America's American Wigeon. It is strongly migratory and winters further south than its breeding range. In Great Britain and Ireland the Wigeon is common as a winter visitor, but scarce as a breeding bird in Scotland, the Lake District, the Pennines and occasionally further south. It can be found as an uncommon winter visitor in the United States, particularly on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
The Wigeon is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or marshes with some taller vegetation, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing, which it does very readily. It nests on the ground, near water and under cover. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks.
This is a noisy species. The male has a clear whistle, whereas the female has a low growl.
bracasha75, danos, pablominto has marked this note useful
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bracasha75
(21977) 2008-03-06 14:04
Hi Nel
Good and precise shot of this duck and nice present
My compliments for this note
Cheers,Braca
ifanik
(20504) 2008-03-07 1:45
Hi Nel and thank you for your critigue
Very beautiful portrait
Very nice shot with beautiful colours
Very well done
Best regards
Nick
Gustaw
(21670) 2008-03-07 12:01
Hi, friend!
Very interesitng bird. I like your conception. Long and interesting note. Are you ornitolog? I like your idea. Only I think should be more contrast. Interesting work.
Marek
danos
(32228) 2008-03-09 4:17
Hello Nel,
nice the shot with the Eurasian Wigeon to looks like a star.I like the colours and the light that falls on and brings out the details of it.The sharpness and the clarity are superb.Informative your note too.
Have a nice weekend,Danos
jmcl
(13721) 2008-03-15 20:22
Hi Nel,
The duck is beautiful ..but it is the textures and tones of the watery background I find very attractive and appealing .. very nice .. great expression in his eye.
take care,
John
Silvio1953
(41481) 2008-03-16 9:12
Ciao Nel, splendid portrait of beautiful Anas, wonderful details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio
anducina
(8085) 2008-03-19 5:47
Excellent colors and details, the nice duck with its rusty and grey feathers on the green water...
pablominto
(40456) 2008-03-22 0:52
Hello Nel,
Interesting point of view showing how wide they are when swimming!
Good details in the plumage, and lovely ripples on the water...
A well composed image with this fine bird!
Greetings,
Pablo -
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Nel Diepstraten (NellyD)
(1872) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2008-03-02
- Categories: Nature
- Camera: Canon 350 D
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2008-03-06 5:55








