{"id":50538,"date":"2018-01-07T05:45:22","date_gmt":"2018-01-07T12:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=50538"},"modified":"2023-03-10T07:07:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T14:07:49","slug":"american-wigeon-pair-in-northern-utah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/01\/07\/american-wigeon-pair-in-northern-utah\/","title":{"rendered":"American Wigeon Pair In Northern Utah"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanAmerican Wigeons in Salt Lake County – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t often have opportunities to photograph American Wigeons so when a pair swam up close to me last week I focused on them to take photos. The hen was in the lead when I took this image and the drake was trailing behind her. I’ve noticed this American Wigeon pair at my local pond for well over a week now but they have always been too far away to take high quality images of them until three days ago.<\/p>\n

\"PairPair of American Wigeons – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the reasons I may have fewer opportunities with American Wigeons than other ducks is because this species spends more time grazing on open wetlands than foraging in the water. Usually those open wetlands are further away from me than open water is when shooting from a mobile blind.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Wigeon hen on a pond – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Female American Wigeons have grayish heads with white and dusky streaks, their breasts and flanks are reddish brown and their mantles are gray-brown. Their small bills are gray with a black tip.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Wigeon drake on a sunny afternoon – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Male American Wigeons in breeding plumage have cream to white foreheads and crowns with a broad green patch starting behind the eyes extending to the nape, they have pinkish brown flanks, breasts and backs with a section of white in the flanks and black undertail coverts. Their bills are blue-gray with a black tip.<\/p>\n

I wonder how long this pair of American Wigeons will hang around, I hope it is long enough for me to see more green iridescence on the drake’s head and long enough for me to take more images of them.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my American Wigeon photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wonder how long this pair of American Wigeons will hang around, I hope it is long enough for me to see more green iridescence on the drake’s head and long enough for me to take more images of them. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":111020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6312,27,709,26],"tags":[4004,6313,4717,4483,1129,126,4070,4359,4062,6314,2139,1984,8018,3996,2063,6315,6316],"class_list":["post-50538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-wigeons","category-avian","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-wigeon","tag-dabbling-ducks","tag-drake","tag-duck","tag-ducks-2","tag-female","tag-hen","tag-male","tag-mareca-americana","tag-pair","tag-pond","tag-urban","tag-water","tag-waterfowl","tag-wigeon","tag-wigeons"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-pair-mia-mcpherson-1355.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-d98","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":75507,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/11\/25\/hen-and-drake-american-wigeon-pair-close-to-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":50538,"position":0},"title":"Hen And Drake American Wigeons Close To Home","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Among the duck species I look for during the winter are American Wigeons which are medium sized dabbling ducks.","rel":"","context":"In "American Wigeons"","block_context":{"text":"American Wigeons","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/ducks\/american-wigeons\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Drake and hen American Wigeons, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeons-pair-on-water-mia-mcpherson-2678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeons-pair-on-water-mia-mcpherson-2678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeons-pair-on-water-mia-mcpherson-2678.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeons-pair-on-water-mia-mcpherson-2678.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55694,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/15\/drake-american-wigeon-close-ups-in-afternoon-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":50538,"position":1},"title":"Drake American Wigeon Close Ups in Afternoon Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"American Wigeons are here in this area of northern Utah year round but I seem to have my best opportunities with them during the winter. I'm delighted that this drake came in so close.","rel":"","context":"In "American Wigeons"","block_context":{"text":"American Wigeons","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/ducks\/american-wigeons\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Wigeon drake close up, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9100.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9100.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9100.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9100.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50724,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/01\/19\/photographing-american-wigeon-drakes-in-afternoon-and-low-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":50538,"position":2},"title":"Photographing American Wigeon Drakes in Afternoon and Low Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I like how both these two American Wigeon photos turned out even though they were taken in different lighting conditions, they are both pleasing to my eye.","rel":"","context":"In "American Wigeons"","block_context":{"text":"American Wigeons","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/ducks\/american-wigeons\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Low light portrait of an American Wigeon drake, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2841.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2841.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2841.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2841.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":111487,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/03\/23\/american-wigeon-on-the-last-day-of-winter\/","url_meta":{"origin":50538,"position":3},"title":"American Wigeon On The Last Day Of Winter","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed an American Wigeon drake on the last day of winter at my local pond. The light was nice and lovely but my view of the wigeon was even nicer.","rel":"","context":"In "American Wigeons"","block_context":{"text":"American Wigeons","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/ducks\/american-wigeons\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Wigeon drake on the last day of winter, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-pond-mia-mcpherson-6491.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-pond-mia-mcpherson-6491.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-pond-mia-mcpherson-6491.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-pond-mia-mcpherson-6491.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":110984,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/03\/10\/urban-drake-american-wigeon-in-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":50538,"position":4},"title":"Urban Drake American Wigeon In Snow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The sun came out for a bit yesterday so I went down to my local urban ponds. I was tickled to find and photograph a drake American Wigeon resting in the snow.","rel":"","context":"In "American Wigeons"","block_context":{"text":"American Wigeons","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/ducks\/american-wigeons\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Drake American Wigeon resting in snow, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-adult-drake-snow-mia-mcpherson-5538.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-adult-drake-snow-mia-mcpherson-5538.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-adult-drake-snow-mia-mcpherson-5538.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-adult-drake-snow-mia-mcpherson-5538.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":111309,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/03\/18\/american-wigeon-portraits-i-see-spats\/","url_meta":{"origin":50538,"position":5},"title":"American Wigeon Portraits – I See Spats","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning, I am sharing two American Wigeon portraits. I felt fortunate to take them recently at one of my local urban ponds on a frosty, cold morning.","rel":"","context":"In "American Wigeons"","block_context":{"text":"American Wigeons","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/ducks\/american-wigeons\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Drake American Wigeon portrait, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5693.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5693.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5693.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/american-wigeon-drake-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5693.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50538"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50538\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}