The Common Goldeneye is a diving duck found on U.S. rivers, lakes, and coastal bays in winter. Males have a round white cheek spot and yellow eyes, while females have brown heads. It nests in tree holes near water across its northern breeding range.
Appearance
Appearance
Males have a dark green-black head, a round white spot near the bill, and a yellow eye. Females have a chocolate-brown head and a pale eye.
A male Barrow's Goldeneye has a tall, crescent-shaped white face patch. The male Common Goldeneye has a round spot. Female Barrow's Goldeneyes often have a largely yellow bill in North America.
Why they get mixed up · Both are black-and-white diving ducks with yellow eyes.
A male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is smaller and has a large white patch across the back of the head, rather than a small white spot by the bill.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
lakes
large rivers
coastal bays
Range
It breeds mainly in Alaska and northern Canada, with smaller breeding populations in northern U.S. states. In winter it uses open rivers, lakes, and Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coastal waters.
Seasonal presence
A breeding bird in parts of the northern U.S. and a widespread winter visitor farther south.
Behavior
Diet
It eats aquatic and fish.
Activity
It dives to feed; its wings can whistle audibly in flight.
Life cycle
Nest
The female nests in a tree cavity near water and also uses nest boxes.
Clutch size
4–9 eggs
Incubation
27–33 days
Name and classification
About the name
North American birds belong to the American Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula americana); Eurasian birds belong to the Eurasian Goldeneye subspecies (Bucephala clangula clangula). Rare with Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) also occur.
Conservation
IUCN Red List
LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction
Culture and stories
Culture and stories
The whistling wings gave this duck the nickname “whistler” among hunters.