Status and distribution VAGRANT Recently become almost regular at Lake Myvatn in Iceland but otherwise a vagrant to the Western Palearctic. Breeds across much of Canada and the northern USA, in the east wintering from New England south to Florida.

In Europe most often recorded in the British Is and Iceland but has also wandered to Scandinavia, Continental Europe, Spain and the Canary Is and south to the Azores and Morocco. This is one of the most frequently recorded American ducks in the Western Palearctic and ringing recoveries have shown that genuine vagrancy does occur. Although there are records from all months due to long-staying and returning individuals the peak period for new arrivals is late Sep-Oct in Britain where > 400 have occurred. Hybrids with Eurasian Wigeon occur occasionally.

Habitat Found in similar habitats to the Eurasian Wigeon but less often on brackish waters and estuaries in winter.