Bucephala clangula
The Common Goldeneye is a strikingly handsome medium-sized diving duck, renowned for its distinctive appearance and agile underwater prowess. Males boast a glossy, iridescent green-black head with a prominent white circular patch between the eye and bill, a brilliant yellow eye, a stark white breast and flanks, and a black back. Females are more subdued with a chocolate-brown head, a bright yellow eye, a clean white neck collar, and a grayish body. Measuring 40-51 cm (16-20 inches) in length ...
Common Goldeneyes primarily breed in boreal forests near clear, shallow freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds. During winter, they favor large open bodies of water, including coastal estuaries, marine bays, large freshwater lakes, and rivers, avoiding fast currents.
Primarily carnivorous, their diet consists mainly of aquatic insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, supplemented by small fish and some plant material. They forage by diving underwater and searching along the bottom.
Common Goldeneyes are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and roosting on open water or sheltered coves. They are highly skilled diving ducks, using their strong legs and webbed feet to propel themselves underwater in pursuit of prey. Courtship displays are elaborate and occur on the w...
The breeding range of the Common Goldeneye spans the boreal forests of North America, including Alaska, Canada, and the northernmost U.S. states, extending across northern Europe and Asia. In North America, they breed from central Alaska east through the Canadian provinces to Newfoundland and Lab...
Least Concern
- The Common Goldeneye is often called 'Whistler' due to the distinctive high-pitched whistling sound made by its wings in flight. - Unlike most diving ducks, they are obligate cavity nesters, relying on old hardwood tree cavities or artificial nest boxes. - Female goldeneyes sometimes lay eggs i...