Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Place: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Date: December 11, 2004
Equipment: Nikon D70, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (= 600/5.6), tripod, SB-800
Exposure: ISO 320, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/60 @ f/11, fill flash @ -1.7
90% of frame

Eurasian Wigeons are rare to uncommon in North America, and have been increasing in numbers over the 30 years I've been birding.

This bird is at a small pond in a cemetery in Scottsdale, where one wintered last year. There were reports of two birds there this week, and some concern that one of them might be a hybrid with an American Wigeon. When I stopped for photos I only found one.

The hybrid claim could be due to the small amount of green showing near the eye of this bird, but nobody here in Arizona really seems to know. I've posted this image for comment and dscussion on the AZ birding listserv.