\Widg"eon\, n. [Probably from an old French form of F.
vigeon, vingeon, gingeon; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vipio,
-onis, a kind of small crane.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of several species of fresh-water ducks, especially
those belonging to the subgenus {Mareca}, of the genus
{Anas}. The common European widgeon ({Anas penelope}) and the
American widgeon ({A. Americana}) are the most important
species. The latter is called also {baldhead}, {baldpate},
{baldface}, {baldcrown}, {smoking duck}, {wheat}, {duck}, and
{whitebelly}.

{Bald-faced}, or {Green-headed}, widgeon, the American
   widgeon.

{Black widgeon}, the European tufted duck.

{Gray widgeon}.
(a) The gadwall.
(b) The pintail duck.

{Great headed widgeon}, the poachard.

{Pied widgeon}.
(a) The poachard.
(b) The goosander.

{Saw-billed widgeon}, the merganser.

{Sea widgeon}. See in the Vocabulary.

{Spear widgeon}, the goosander. [Prov. Eng.]

{Spoonbilled widgeon}, the shoveler.

{White widgeon}, the smew.

{Wood widgeon}, the wood duck.