A very widespread and common species, breeding across all of
Eurasia from Iceland to Kamchatka, rare in the far north and tundra regions. They winter to the south and west,
Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean and western Europe, flocks being common in the UK in winter with their persistent
whistling calls, occasionally "carrying" another species such as Baikal Teal or Falcated Duck. Hybrids with
American Wigeon are frequent, indeed up to 10% of some populations show features which indicate that hybrids are
fertile and diluting the gene pool. Hybrids with other species are rare in the wild.
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