Pairing chronology and mate selection in the American wigeon (Anas americana)

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Abstract
The American wigeon (Anas americana) was studied during winter in southwestern British Columbia and on its breeding grounds in south-central Saskatchewan. Sex ratios ranged from 52.4 to 59.6% males. Wigeons courted in small groups but not all birds did so concurrently. However, by April all females were paired. Some winter pair bonds were temporary and observations of wild birds as well as a group of captives indicated that males and females exhibited mate preferences. Persistent aggression, dominance, mate attentiveness, and the performance of functional displays and aerial chases by males were important in acquiring a mate. Adult males in full alternate plumage tended to pair earliest. Those unable to obtain a mate were generally smaller and had lower protein and lipid reserves. These characteristics with which mate choice was correlated were also those which were important during nesting later on.