WIDGEON, an abundant species of duck, Anas Penelope, breeding in Europe and northern Asia and reaching northern Africa and India in winter. Intermediate in size between the teal and the mallard, the widgeon drake is a handsome bird with cream forehead, chestnut head and neck, pencilled grey flanks and green and black speculum (wing-bar). Its whistling cry has given it the local name of "whew-duck." The widgeon collects in huge flocks on tidal waters in winter and is shot for market in large numbers. When on land it often eats grass. Two allied spe
cies occur in America, of which A. americana, the baldpate, in habits northern America, reaching Central America and Trinidad in winter; it differs in that the head is green, with the top of the head white. The other species, A. sibilatrix, is South American.