Eurasian wigeon or more casually wigeon (haapana, bläsand) adults with ducklings are so cute dabbling ducks.
I met wigeons first time this summer while visiting in Porla, Lohja. The male is handsome on his breeding plumage and has a loud characteristic whiplash-like whistling call vii-u(rr). As usually in the bird wold the female in less colorful and does not whistle 😊, though she is very graceful, small duck.
Wigeon ducklings
OMG how cute little wigeon ducklings are. I published earlier a post Eurasian Wigeon (Haapana) chicks stretching in which you can see photos of wigeon babies stretching their legs. Some of my readers thought they were having yoga time, some called it wigeon ballet 😁.
These beauties are from the same brood as the ones in my stretching post.
The brood I saw in Porla had 10 ducklings. Usually wigeon female lay 7-9 eggs in April-May and she incubates for 22-23 days.
It seems to be that quite many ducklings are killed when they are small. Within two days (21-23.6.) two were missing, beginning of August I saw five juveniles.
Wigeon juveniles
It is difficult to say is this a female or male as it still looks like female wigeon. Young wigeons become independent in 40 to 45 days, when they reach the fledgling stage. They are ready to mate when they are 1-2 years old.
Eurasian wigeons (Anas penelope) breed from Iceland across northern Europe and Asia. Although most populations migrate and can be found from the British Isles to northern Africa and India in the winter, and a few even migrate to the United States and Canada.
Hopefully you find my wigeon post interesting and you liked my wigeon photos!
Minna from Finnish nature 😊
FINNISH NATURE photos 
Yes! I like your pictures a lot. Baby birds are so precious. I am not near too much water so I don’t see baby waterfowl much, but I watching all the other fledglings feeding with their poor over worked mothers! In the fall I love to watch the flocks of ducks and geese swooping overhead as they fly South, though it makes me sad to see them go! My cat Willow was frightened of them when I first came here but now she knows it’s OK!
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Thank you Yetismith! Baby birds are fluffy and round, I love them too. It is real sad to see birds leaving, soon they will start their journey towards South. Good that Willow is OK with migrating birds 😊 Geese make quite loud noice, so no wonder that Willow has been afraid.
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Nothing like baby ducks to cheer one up!
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😊
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They are adorable! All little ones are cute, but there’s something about ducklings that’s just so heart-melting.
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I agree Lynette, ducklings are so cute!
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These are wonderful photos! I was not familiar with this bird. Their plumage is beautiful. The chicks are so cute 🙂
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Thank you Magikmermaid! I got to know wigeon this summer. The male in its plumage is beautiful and the whistling is so funny. The female is caring and she makes special sound when she wants to get the chicks near her. I love these birds and the chicks are so lovely 🙂
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Gorgeous captures, Minna! The male in breeding plumage and its reflection (first photo) is stunning! And a big AWWWWWW for the little ones. Too darn cute!! 🥰
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Thank you Donna! I am glad you liked it, it’s my favorite as well😊 The little ones are soooo cute💕 It’s amazing how fast they grow up🐥
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Lovely photos Minna. Those ducklings are super cute! 😍
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Thank you Sue!
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Hello Minna.
Excellent post and stunning pics. My favorite are those Baby wigeon photos. Extremely cute! Thank you.
Have a good day!
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Hello Matti, thank you! I am glad that you liked them. The baby wigeons are sooo cute 😻
Have a good day too!
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A beautiful series of photos.
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Thank you! Baby wigeons are so cute and their parents beautiful birds
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